Feb 07 2009
Valentines Day is Almost Upon Us
Well here it is, already February 8th already, wow! How time flies! 6 more days until Valentines Day and I have nothing planned for my hubby, mostly because we have no money. I guess it will be a quiet evening in, no flowers, no candy, maybe a card. Valentine’s Day isn’t something big in Germany, so I don’t think he’ll make a big deal about it either, well maybe, he is pretty romantic and all. I used to be romantic until life got in the way. Now I feel like holidays like this are more of a pain in the butt than anything else. My theory is that Valentine’s day was invented by the greeting card marketers and propogated by other retailers like jewelers, candy makers and florists. Following is the definition according to Wikipedia . What is your theory??
“Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
An alternative theory from Belarus states that the holiday originates from the story of Saint Valentine, who upon rejection by his mistress was so heartbroken that he took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love for her. Hence, heart-shaped cards are now sent as a tribute to his overwhelming passion and suffering. [1]
The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of “valentines.” Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.[2] The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.[3]
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines[4].”
I’m one of those who doesn’t subscribe to the commercialism surrounding Valentine’s Day (or Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and all those other Hallmark Holidays). I discourage my husband from bothering with this day, but he usually disobeys and gets me a card and flowers anyway, the silly man
He’ll probably send me a card this time around, seeing as I’ll be in Malaysia on V-Day this year :p
I don’t buy into all the commercialism. I prefer handmade gifts and cards. It fuels my creativity and suits my budget.
Roxie
I’d like to make something at home for my husband…it adds a touch of extra love n care I believe…hehehe.
http://healthnbeauty.today.com/
Lynn, Recoveryrocks and Gazal: Thank you all for commenting!! Even though I don’t agree with the commercialism of the day, I don’t mind if my husband gets romantic and gives me a card. I try to reciprocate by giving him a card and/or making a special dinner at home. My husband is very romantic and sweet, he has a way of trying to make me feel special every day, and valentines day is no exception.
You are correct, Roxie and Gazal, something handmade is always extra special and more appreciated.
I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day!!
You know, I used to love valentine’s day for all the cards and candy, things were so simple then. Now, one of my daughter’s classmates was bragging that she was going to get new clothes, unlimited texting, and and IPOD touch, for VALENTINE’S DAY!!!