The thing about Valentine's Day is that it's bullshit.
I've always believed that V Day is all about Saint Valentine. I remember being told that he was a rocking dude who secretly married people in love who weren't allowed to be together and then ended up dying (martyred) for it. Where all the pink and red hearts, corny cards and chocolates came from I'm not sure. Probably from the gift shop industry.
For this blog I decided to beef it up with some research, rather than just making wild claims based on something I THINK that I know. Turns out that no one really knows which saint is the 'real' St Valentine, as there are three known possibilities. My version is based on a legend that Valentine married soldiers (when Emperor Claudius II banned marriage because he thought single men were better soldiers).
It is also worth noting that the Pope took Valentine's Day off the official saints day register in 1969. Is he trying to tell us something?
So basically what I'm getting at is... Valentine's Day is bullshit.
Not the idea of celebrating love. That should be celebrated. But why do we need a designated day? And why does everyone always associate it with romantic love. Not everyone has that. But everyone (I hope!) has someone that they care about, a friend, a family member, a work colleague. Shouldn't we be celebrating our endless capacity to love lots of different people in lots of different ways, rather than one individual love that can't be shared with anyone else?
Anyway, with this all in mind I set out to complete my challenge - to send a Valentine. I ended up sending four. One to a boy who will remain anonymous and three to my mates.
The process of writing a real Valentine is not one I've been through for quite a few years. In fact, I think I've really only sent Valentines to my boyfriends, not to people I had a crush on. I do remember the stress of V Day in high school, waiting to see who would get a rose and who would be among the losers who didn't. I had many crushes in high school but I can't recall sending any a Valentine, even though I could have done it anonymously.
So this was quite a difficult challenge for me, to think of what to write and put it down on paper. Nothing sappy, because that's just not really me anymore. (I say anymore because I vividly remember writing many love poems when I was a teenager). I found it easier to write the Valentines to my friends, with the ease of knowing that everything I wrote would be accepted, appreciated and never rejected.
Although, that being said, who rejects a Valentine? Surely, even if you don't like the person, it's nice to know that SOMEONE would like to snuggle you?
So, challenge completed. Do I still think V Day is bullshit? Yes I do. Will I send another Valentine next year? Most likely. Will you be the lucky receiver? You will just have to wait by your mailbox to find out...
