Vday...

The world is split on Holidays. Especially when it comes to Vday. I personally have grown up loving every holiday. Ok, maybe not everything holiday, such as; presidents day or something; but pretty much every holiday.

My thoughts on Vday..

I know people say "every day should be vday. it shouldn't take a holiday to show your loved ones that you love them. people shouldn't feel the need or obligation to buy presents due to it being a made up holiday about love" and blah blah blah

I love Vday! I agree, you should love your people everyday but with this said, every person falls into a rut. Every relationship gets into an everyday routine. We ALL slip here and there when it comes to showing our love. No matter if that is to our Husband/Wife, Brother/Sister, Mother/Father, Friends/ or our children.

V'day is just another holiday.. just another holiday to remind us that hey, it is time to get out of our rut, go out of our way a little bit extra, celebrate life and love. It is just another holiday that gets us out of routine. What is wrong with that? Yes, again, I do agree that we should make the effort on days that isn't a made up holiday BUT everyone needs a little help or reminder here and there. So why not show you love, go out of your way, do things randomly like people say, AND do them on Vday. Isn't that better than skipping Vday, complaining about Vday, or wishing it would end.

I stood in the Vday section of Walmart yesterday listening to a conversation, as I always do, between a women and an older man. The women was saying, why buy something today? Why play into the Americanized holiday just to get you to spend money? I think it is a waste of time. I think we should show each other happiness and love everyday. The man simply responded, because it is fun. As I then walked away, I laughed out loud at this because he is very right. It is fun. The cute red and pink teddy bears with xoxo all over hearts. The pretty flowers in vases decorated with the word love. It is fun!

For example;
I am 26 years old. Today, I took vday cards to school with me. I just printed them off the computer, cut them out, taped a piece of chocolate to them (since everyone in my class loves chocolate). When I got there, I said I have valentines for everyone and the smiles that came across their faces.. SO WORTH IT. They were all jealous they didn't pick out cards for the class, happy they were thought of, and I am sure felt loved.

For example;
Zak decorated the kitchen with vday stuff, set up Mady's presents on the table, and woke her up at 7:45 this morning. The look on her face when she got the necklace she wanted was priceless. The hug she gave to the puppy dog I got her was sweet. Then she looked at me and smiled and said happy Valentines day mommy. Perfect!

I have many examples from the day (the cute heart shaped on the cupcakes from the cupcake kitchen. The yummy vday chex mix we made. The time spent with my mom. The funny card my sister sent me.. all the flowers in my house. The flowers I got a day early from Zak, and sooooo on.. the list goes on and on)

So if you don't like Valentines day for whatever your reasons are, that is fine. If you are just so good and perfect that you show your love everyday and you don't need a reminder day to get out of a rut or routine. If you don't enjoy the love and hearts all around town. Please just be quite, don't buy gifts for anyone, stop complaining, stay at home, and do whatever it is you would rather do on the "made up holiday".

Just let us enjoy the day.


History of Valentines

One story goes;
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Another story goes;
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France

And more;
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial--which probably occurred around A.D. 270--others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus

Fun Facts
The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia on February 14th in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses.

Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage.

Many believe the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an 'X.' The 'X' was then kissed to show their sincerity.

Girls of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine's Day to make them dream of their future spouse.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."

In 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared February 14th the holiday of St. Valentine's Day.