Valentine's Day

Chapter 9

It’s the most romantic time of the year…

Saint Valentine’s Day.

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Oh, Valentine’s Day… such an exciting celebration. And, I suppose, more celebrated by those with someone to celebrate it with.

Well, as I’m all alone on this dreary day (YOU DON’T NEED A BOYFRIEND, YOU HAVE ME! - Editor. Well actually, us. - Proofreader), I might as well tell you a little story. Shall I?

Long before hearts were drawn on paper and love letters were sealed with wax, ancient Romans gathered in celebration during the festival of Lupercalia. They honoured the god of fertility, Faunus. This celebration eventually morphed into a calmer celebration as Christianity spread throughout the Roman world. The emperor at the time, Claudius II, supposedly decreed that men in the army would not be married as he believed that single men made better soldiers. A priest named Valentine believed that this was unjust and began to perform marriages for these men in secret. However, he was unfortunately found out and was sentenced to execution. In some tellings, he even healed the blind daughter of his jailer, leaving behind a final note signed “from your Valentine” before his tragic martyrdom. This is where the tradition of calling your lover your Valentine is said to have come from. February 14th is the purported day when St. Valentine died, marking a day of loving remembrance.

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Emblems of Valentine’s Day:

1 — Chocolates!

Now, why would chocolates be a motif of Valentine’s Day, besides its sweetness, of course? Well, did you know that the scientific name of the cacao tree in Greek is Theobroma cocoa, which actually means food of the gods? Therefore, it would be the perfect treat to gift one’s lover. After all, it symbolises the greatest entity/entities that you would believe in, if religious. Furthermore, chocolate has the chemical phenylethylamine (phenyl-eth-yl-amine). This releases endorphins in your brain, resulting in the same happy feeling you experience when in love. Isn’t that so wonderful? Even science backs up the miraculous power of chocolate.

2 — Red Roses

Roses, reds in particular, have long been associated with love and Valentine’s Day. This is because according to Greek mythology, roses grew from Aphrodite’s [the goddess of love] tears. They then mingled with the blood of her lover, Adonis, as he died in her arms.

3 — Cupid or Eros

Eros and Cupid are also frequent markers of Valentine’s Day. Both symbolise, in Greek and Roman mythology respectively, desire. Their mother is frequently said to be Aphrodite or Venus, and their father, Ares or Mars — symbolising the duality of love and war. Eros and Cupid are involved in a variety of romantic myths. They are generally depicted with a bow and arrow. Ovid describes there being two types of arrows: a golden arrow and a lead arrow. The golden arrow makes the stricken fall in love desperately whilst the lead makes the stricken the opposite, inflicting them with disgust and revulsion. The use of these can be seen in a myth with Apollo and Daphne, where Apollo is struck with the gold arrow and Daphne with the lead. Daphne is eventually turned into a tree by Gaia upon her pleading to avoid Apollo’s advances.

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This Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoyed yourself, for above romantic love, it is incredibly important to recognise self-worth as well.

Happy Valentines Day!

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Written by Sara Rowan.
Edited by Hazel Antler.
Proofread by Daphne Clarke.