Well, you’re either tapping your pen in anticipation or hoping to sleep through the whole thing. Valentine’s Day is on its way, kids, and the question that everyone wants to know is, “How are you going to spend it?”
Before answering that nagging question, let’s look at the holiday itself. People celebrating holidays, rituals, etc., should know what they are celebrating. You never know how your opinion of something may change by taking time to learn something about it.
Here is a not-so-in-depth brief on the history of Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day started in the Roman Empire under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, or Claudius the Cruel. Rome had been involved in many bloody and costly battles. Claudius found it difficult to get men to join his military and blamed it on the men not wanting to leave loved ones, so he canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome.
A Christian priest named Valentine defended love in the empire. Valentine began secretly marrying couples, despite the emperor’s orders. When Claudius got wind of these ceremonies, he sentenced Valentine to prison until his death, which fell on Feb. 14, 270 A.D.
In honor of his sacrifice for love, Valentine was made a saint and his day came to replace a mid-February fertility festival called Lupercalia.
This holiday represents not only love, but also standing up for what you believe in. Who would have thought that chocolate-covered cherries would someday signify one man’s passion for love and unity?
Now that history class is over, let’s focus on the future and figure out what to do on this day. Luckily for us, we are in Starkville and the options are sky-high. OK, I exaggerated a bit. A traditional Valentine’s Day usually entails a nice dinner, which I think Starkville can handle. You can go out to eat or make the dinner yourself. (If you want brownie points, guys, try making a candlelit dinner at home. Who cares if you burn the lasagna? She’ll love the thought.)
Those of you willing to pull out the big bucks for your sweethearts could take a nearby weekend trip. Memphis would be a nice change of scenery with plenty to do. And just two hours away, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day all weekend long. I almost forgot about Philadelphia. Nothing says, “I love you,” like the ringing of slot machines and free drinks all night. (I was making a joke, but now I think I want to go.)
For those of you that are dateless on this Valentine’s Day, it’s OK. You have two choices. One: wear all black, protesting the holiday and making it obvious that you don’t have a date and are mad at the world. Two: find other single friends and put on your most fly outfit and hit the town with your girls or boys. Remember: Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, so the clubs will be open and drinks will be flowing.
Whatever your plans, make sure your sweetheart feels special. If you’re single, it’s your day to live just for you. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?