Every Feb. 14, people across the globe celebrate love in a holiday Americans know as Valentine’s Day. But how did the holiday begin?
There are several theories about the origin of Valentine’s Day. There may be some truth in all of them.
According to www.howstuffworks.com, one theory is that it sprang from the tradition of the Roman feast day of Lupercalia on a day in mid-February in celebration of the coming spring and fertility.
However, the best-known theory and the namesake of Valentines Day comes from a third century Roman priest named Valentine who secretly performed marriages against the will of the Emperor Claudius II. The emperor wanted young men to remain unmarried and enlist in the army, so he imprisoned Valentine. Before the priest was executed on Feb. 14, 270 A.D., he is said to have sent a note to a young girl he loved, signing it “From Your Valentine.”
The Catholic church, for many years, set Feb. 14 as a celebration of St. Valentine as the patron saint of lovers. Even though the day was officially removed in 1969, the holiday still exists as a part of many cultures.
Regardless of how it began, Valentine’s Day is definitely a favorite holiday for many. Who doesn’t just love love? With roses, chocolates or cards featuring Cupid brandishing his inescapable arrows, there are many traditions and gifts involved with Valentine’s Day. But what about MSU students? What happens to the school of Maroon and White on a day of red and pink?
Many MSU students plan to keep things simple on Valentine’s Day. Senior Keith Guillot, a communication major, said his girlfriend is coming to visit him here in Starkville Friday.
“We’ll probably do the usual,” Guillot said. “We’ll have a nice dinner and maybe see a movie. Pretty much whatever makes her happy!”
MSU’s first couple, Dr. J. Charles Lee and his wife Pat, said they would have an interesting Valentine’s Day “trying to get the furniture and other things arranged” in their new home.
But what about those who are single? What can single people do on Valentine’s Day? Anything except feel sorry for themselves about being single! Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. That does not necessarily have to be romantic love. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Spend time with family or friends. The odds are you know at least one other person who is single. So get together! Rent some movies, take time to talk and treat yourselves to a night with people you love.
2. Spend time with children. Do you know a married couple who would love to go out, but can’t find someone to keep the kids? Here’s a suggestion: Offer to stay with them! Make ice cream sundaes. Rent them that awesome movie you watched when you were younger that they have never seen. Teach them card tricks. You get to have a ball, and your married friends will owe you a favor!
3. Take a night to yourself at Is there a book somewhere you have been dying to finish, but you haven’ t had time? Read it! Turn on the music you like as loud as you want and sing along with it at the top of your lungs. Cook a gourmet meal with all the weird foods that you like just for yourself and put off doing the dishes until later. Indulge yourself! Being single has its advantages.
And if it turns out you have a bad Valentine’s Day, remember this: At the very least, it was probably better than St. Valentine’s last one!