As Wikipedia would have it, Valentine's Day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 A.D and named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyrs. For decades, it was thought that Hallmark created this holiday to boost sales revenue and during this process have created an official holiday for lovers. I haven't done adequate research to confirm which is rumor and which is the truth, but for now, this holiday exists and everyone is buying into it.
The celebration of this lover's day has been bitter sweet for the american culture. Whether your are newly dating or have been together for years, there is a set of unspoken expectations that need be met to validate your love from one another. By unspoken expectation, I mean a romantic dinner, long stem roses, and candy, all in that exact order. It is one day out of the year that if you get it right, you automatically earn the priviledge to screw up as much as you want for the rest of the year. And for the people who are single, the bitterness and unwillingness to accept this lover's day celebration gets expressed via Facebook, twitter, or any modern day social sites. Despising this lover's holiday suddenly vanishes the second a person enters a loving relationship. It's a vicious cycle of love, hate, and celebration.
Yes, in my opinion, it's a twisted holiday and despite the fact that I think all this is B.S, I still adore the gorgeous dozen red roses given to me by Dan today. And for as long as I'm with Dan, I will celebrate Valentine's Day.
It is so true! What a cycle it is... I try to celebrate my love every single day. Once a year just isn't enough!
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