The Persistence of Love

It's probably the most critiqued holiday on the books - Valentine's Day. People either love it or hate it. Well, that's not entirely true - there may be some people like me who are entirely apathetic towards it. You see, my husband? Not a planner. Me? Not a planner AND a procrastinator. And really, the "last minute shopping" that we would both be subjected to for one day is pretty much consumer rape. So we've agreed, in the past and presently, to keep it real. For shiz. We usually do something low key, like dinner at home, or we trick the pros by going out for our celebration the night before or for lunch. (No, you won't get us with your $350 three-course meal with a sub-par champagne toast!).


In fact, my FAVORITE celebration of this tepid holiday was the last time the 14th of Feburary fell on a Saturday. Manbug showed up at my house freshly showered and shaved - looking quite dapper. If I recall correctly, there were flurries of snow about. In one hand, he had a bottle of red wine and in the other, some firewood. He scooped me out the door with a kind command to get in his car. We went out to Maggiano's (don't judge - we like our chains!) for an amazing lunch, and by the time the rest of the consumers were involved in the dinner-chaos in Dallas, we were snuggled in front of a fire with full tummies and a movie. It was, perfect.


Since VD is falling on a Saturday once again - we're going to do the same thing. Go out for a decadent lunch that will perhaps, involve champagne, head home when everyone else is just getting gussied up for a crazy night, and celebrate the last few hours in quiet.


But really, that wasn't the point of my post. As a few of you know, I spent a semester during my junior year studying in Rome. As a Classics major, it was the prime location because it brought everything that I had read in my textbooks to life. One class met once a week for three hours - on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. And our classroom? Various sites around the Eternal City: The Roman Forum, Piazza del Popolo, the Circus Maximus. We would wander around seemingly misplaced stones and modern structures as our teacher pointed out the significance of what once stood in that very location. He captured our attention with amazing stories of old. I loved that class. I mean, I REALLY LOVED that class. It was everything I had hoped for in the most amazing city in the world. But one story stood out in my mind.


I thought this story was told to us as we stood in front of an ancient jail on the site of the Forum, but my research doesn't prove that story 100% accurate - so let me just relate what I've found that does agree with my memory:

On February 14, around 270 A.D. a Roman priest was beheaded for his belief in
Christianity. This priest, whose name is Valentine, lived during the reign of
Claudius the Goth. It is uncertain as to why Valentine was imprisoned by Emperor
Claudius. Some believe it had to due with Valentine secretly marrying couples,
which was prohibited by the Emperor. Others suggest it had to due with Valentine
saving Christians from persecution. While he was imprisoned Valentine
miraculously cured the jailers daughter who was blind. When people heard of this
miracle they began to believe in Christianity. Once the Emperor heard of this
event he had Valentine beheaded. It wasn't until the late fifth century
that Pope Gelasius declared February 14, St. Valentine's Day. February 14 was
one day before the Roman feast of Lupercalia, which is a pagan love festival and
it was the day that Valentine was martyred. The Christian Church felt it would
be best to replace the Pagan celebration with a Christian celebration and thus
Valentine's Day became synonymous with Love.

Again, I'm venturing into my fortieth year, so my memory might be foggy - but I do remember the story involved love - so I wanted to share this. Have a wonderful day!