Valentine was the name of at least two saints, and there could have been three, after whom the day was named in commemoration.
None was remotely romantic in the sense with which we associate Valentine's Day. They were Christian martyrs, preferring to die rather than renounce their faith, and, chances are, they were celibate.
So how romantic love came into the equation is a mystery. Later on, once the day had been established as a day for lovers, attempts were made at imposing romantic attributes retrospectively on at least one more eponymous saint, to give the day some historic credentials.
The first mention of such a connection was made by one Geoffrey Chaucer, a writer of no mean talent, who suggested Valentine's Day was when birds went looking for a mate. Perhaps he was searching for a rhyme and took poetic licence with a Saint's day.
The fact remains that we celebrate a saint's day (or saints' day) inappropriately, considering the manner and reasons these men met their demise. It is doubtful they were blowing kisses, or writing love declarations in chocolate on their way to Heaven.
Regardless of its dubious history, now we have a day on which declarations of romantic love are made and symbols of that love are exchanged or given, sometimes anonymously.
An industry of cards, flowers, chocolates, jewellery and restaurant meals booms on the back of tradition and woe betide the lover who doesn't comply with commercial expectations.
Sending such tokens of love anonymously is a whole new tradition and one that can cause no end of trouble. How many spouses have received gifts or cards from a "secret" admirer and consequently received the third degree from a suspicious partner? And how many of those secret admirers have sent cards or gifts with malicious intent?
It would be easy to do, wouldn't it? A single box of chocolates, sent unattributed, could turn into a can of worms with very little effort, even if sent with the best intentions. It would, however, make a mockery of a declaration of love if it were sent with hateful import.
Once it was common for school children to send Valentines cards or gifts to their teachers, but today a section of society would view that with misgivings, seeing perversions where none exists, suspicions where none is warranted.
So kids, unless you want to lose your teacher to a PC-inflicted Siberia, leave the pressies at home and eat the chocolates yourself. Unless ... see a previous paragraph - but, not a good idea!
It's probably wise to keep your love-token giving to one who appreciates and/or reciprocates in kind (or deed, or gesture) rather than creating mischief, even if it's not intended.
And if, on that day, you have no-one to share or return your love declaration, make it a day on which to contemplate ways to make it happen for next year.
Valentine's Day, despite its indifferent history, is a day for lovers to declare that love to each other. However you spend Valentine's Day, honour the occasion.
Feedback - paul.brooks@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
