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BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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Monday, February 13, 2017
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YES, folks it’s the day before that designated day in the calendar for husbands and wives, lovers and other strangers.
Tomorrow is that annual phenomena called Valentine’s Day. This is the day when anyone in a relationship, preferably carnal and intimate, must give the significant someone: roses, chocolates, a Valentine’s card and go out on a date, usually dinner, in some swanky hotel or restaurant.
What happens after dinner and several bottles of wine usually ends up with both of the lovers having breakfast together and not necessarily at home.
If Christmas is for children then definitely Valentine’s Day is for adults because the end goal of all of the above is that the lovers will perform acts that might result into spending the next Christmas with their own child or, in the case of married couples, an additional child.
Well, this is considering that both the lovers are not advocates of the RH Bill and do not believe in practising safe and protected sex. In that case, as the Catholics would say, “go forth and multiply.”
But really, what is this phenomenon called Valentine’s Day? Is there any historical or religious significance? According to Wikipedia:
“Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is an annual holiday celebrated on Feb. 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.
The day first became associated with romatic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “Valentines”). In Europe, Saint Valentine’s Keys are given to lovers “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart”, as well as to children, in order to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine’s Malady). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.”
So there is some historical basis for Valentine’s Day and it’s not just some marketing strategy of Hallmarks to sell more greeting cards.
Marketing wise Valentine’s Day has always been a good strategy to sell more chocolates, roses, greeting cards, wine and lately jewellery and condoms. Of course, we cannot deny that occupancy in hotels and motels are up to capacity on this day.
If you’re wondering why chocolates are de rigour on Valentine’s Day as a gift to give to your intended victim, I mean date, chocolates have long been known as aphrodisiacs. So with wine and chocolates plus that dinner in a romantic setting, what’s a girl or boy to do? As Julia Roberts said in that romantic flick “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy.”
On a personal note, I’ve never actually celebrated Valentine’s Day, preferring to do my seduction of the fairer sex on days when one does not have to compete for reservations in hotels or restaurants.
But of course, I’ve never been alone on Valentine’s Day as we’ve always have that quiet dinner at home away from the maddening crowds, that is except for tomorrow. I feel I’ll be alone this Valentine’s Day and cry myself to sleep. Not really, I’ll just play that Pink Floyd CD crank up the volume and get drunk till I become “comfortably numb.”
Guess what, that’s not even the sad part. I’m already in my December years so I can’t comfort myself with the thought that perhaps next Valentine’s Day will be happier I might not even be around then. So, Happy Valentine’s Day, folks./PN
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