Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentine's Day
February 14th. Valentine's Day. Day of the Hearts. Day of the Lovers.
This is a day that has a lot of hype and controversy surrounding it.
Some think it's a day that only exists for commercial purposes. Other's think it's an important occasion where you should show your lover appreciation and affection.
Historically Valentine's Day had nothing to do with romance, but with a number of martyrs of the name Valentine.
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd co
Whan euery bryd co
myth there to chese his make.
["For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet Ophelia ruefully mentions Valentine's Day:
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
However you wish to look at Valentine's Day and whether you choose to celebrate it or not, I think it is good as a reminder to show the people we care for and love that we appreciate them.
One person in an internet community I am part of wrote something in her diary that made me stop and think.
She said that instead of celebrating love on this particular day, we should love and show affection for each other all of the other days of the year instead. And isn't that what we really should do? I don't think it has to be limited to lovers either. Everyone you love and care about, be it friends, family or a partner, let them know that they are loved -every day. We often say that it's the thought that counts. In this case I don't think that's true. A thought has to be put into action to be known by any other than yourself. But it is the small things that say the most. A touch, a kiss, a simple note on the kitchen table saying Good morning, or Have a nice day, or I love you. A text message saying I miss you or Thinking of you. All these little things is what warms the heart of the one you care for. The things we do Just because...
So everyone, remember that it is 365 days to the year -it's not only the occasions that count, remember the little things, the just because...
2 comments:
It is always good to be reminded of so many forms of love. And of course in the different ways we love our many friends.
February 16, 2011 at 11:13 PMI hope you had a great Valentine's day and were able to recognise the love of those who care for you.
P xx
Same to you Pygar (actually had you in mind writing this) :)
February 17, 2011 at 3:09 AMAlways lovely to hear from you!
/L.
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