Whether you believe in Valentine’s Day or not,the bright crimson that has coloured the world scarlet is hard to ignore. Those give away prices on chocolate, teddies,roses,champagne, lingerie,fragrances etc are screaming ‘buy me’ to shoppers internationally. Love is really in the air!!
“I personally think Valentine’s Day is a cliche and a perfect excuse for freeloaders to get gifts.Why give gifts on a particular day and not celebrate love everyday?”says an unnamed source from the city.
“Pressure is put on the males to buy perfect gifts for the ladies and vice versa when its a leap year. It’s like a war-zone if no one gets a gift or an ‘I love you’ message and it makes me wonder if this is the true meaning of Valentine,”he continued.
Since 2018 is not a leap year,expectations are high from the ladies and I feel pity for the males who have to go out of their way to please the fussy females’ desires which are very high.
“It’s supposed to be a gesture of appreciation, that’s what most men do not understand and it makes them think it’s being needy,” Thandiwe Ndlovu said.
“I love being showered with gifts and going on romantic dates with my husband, even if we can do it anytime of the year, Valentine’s day is special because its the day to celebrate the martyr that died for,” says Vanessa Hlatshwayo from Harare.
I asked myself how many people do understand what St Valentine’s day is about and I was saddened with the level of ignorance people had about this beloved saint. Born in the Medieval 3rd century, St Valentinus of Rome was a priest who not only healed sick children and secretly held marriage ceremonies to soldiers and their lovers during the “courtly love” era, he was a true believer of love. The “courtly love” era saw many people,young and old get into courtships were love did not exist and this was sad because romance was a luxury that could only be found out of marriage and many married people would have romantic affairs with their true soulmates. St Valentinus took it upon himself to promote courtships that people could choose who they wanted to marry and love.
Because this was forbidden, he was arrested and executed on February the 14th of 269 AD. Before his death, he wrote a letter to the woman he loved but could not be with because he was a priest and signed the words “Your Valentine” and the day was marked as the day to commemorate true love not only by Christians internationally but other religions as well.
The Feast of St Valentinus is an intimate feast,were lovers not only show affection by gestures and gifts but also by words.The day is not a public holiday in any country but is a public affair to all lovers who appreciate the day,it’s meaning and their lovers.
The spirit of St Valentines lives on and he will continue to be celebrated until the end of time. Cards, teddies, red hearts, cupid , chocolate, roses will still be symbols of the St Valentine’s feast and how it should be celebrated.
Some say its Paganism and some say it is for the Christian community alone, and some who are Christians do not entertain Valentine’s day at all.
Pamela Swazi from Johannesburg, South Africa says,”The only person who died for love was Jesus, yes saints existed after Christ but they were from the Roman Catholic church and I’m not Roman Catholic and I don’t celebrate it because I am Pentecostal.”
