Valentine’s Day

“Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.” Jeanne Moreau’s this quote on love has really highlighted the subtle quality of love
The term “valentine” comes from the Saint Valentine who is the martyred saint of ancient Rome. Anciently it was celebrated as holiday only by the Christians but nowadays this day has become commercial celebration rather than cultural.

Traditionally, it is a day on which lovers express their love with each other presenting flowers, gifts, and sending greeting cards. This day carries heavy importance to the lovers who promise to be each other’s soul. During the period of Geoffrey Chaucer, this day popularized with the idea of romantic love.
It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. He had made the day as holiday in General Roman calendar during his reign. Heart Shaped outlines and doves are the popular symbols to represent Valentine’s Day.

Different poets of medieval period like that of John Donne and Edmund Spenser had written poems highlighting the term Valentine. Different countries have their own way of calling the term Valentine’s Day. In France, it is rather known as Saint Valentin, Portuguese call as lovers’ day. People of Finland know this day as friend’s day. Countries of Latin America remark the day as the day of love and friendship.

In Modern Times, Hindu and Islamic traditionalists consider the holiday to be cultural contamination from the west, the result of globalization in Indian subcontinent. For general people in our country, this day has become more popular these days. Valentine’s Day has been also called as a front for Western imperialism, neocolonialism, and exploitation of working class by the multinational companies.

However in many Islamic countries, this day is banned. Some of them like Iran and Malaysia have harshly criticized and warned. Whatever may be, in today’s world where globalization is at its culmination, this day is becoming more popular within the youths and has been a strong platform to them to express their love in an easy and convenient way.
In Nepalese context, it is open and celebrated wholeheartedly by young people. Flock of couple can be seen together like newly born twins. They seem to be closer physically, mentally and psychologically. On the day, girls and boys are in their own world of expressing their love. Some go on dates, some start a new love life, and some propose their loved ones. The cafes, restaurants, and parks are filled with young couples carrying hand in hand, making promises and swears, and embracing. The shops of gifts and presents are crowded with people selecting for their sweethearts.

Many people express their love on this day, but I always feel that there needn’t be a specific day to express love since whenever our heart feels like expressing you can express. However some consider this as a special day to express. This depends upon individual thought. There are different opinions regarding this festival of love. Some oppose this day saying as the festival of foreigners. They believe that it’s an example of cultural domination by western countries. Some accept is a day to express love and friendship. They take it easily calling love is a part of their life. Few of them opine that love is not only within young girl and boy; it can be with child and parents.
Published In THE NEW PAPER (2011-Feb 14)