July 28 Valentine's Day
Skhye's story SACRAFICIAL HEARTS got me thinking. Are holidays like Valentine's day hype, or do they represent true romance?
TARAH SCOTT
CLASSICAL ROMANCE FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Tarah Scott: July 28 Valentine's Day
Here's a bit about the holiday's history.
Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In the Americas and Europe, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrsValentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. named
The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.
(Here's the kicker.)
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.
(What do you think, are women getting the short end of the stick?)
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Hi Tarah, I think there hype. While Valentines Day is a wonderful day to set aside to do something or exchange gifts with your loved one, its just that a day set aside for people to show there love for each other or there other loved ones. I think true Romance should be all the time and can be spontaneous as well as get away for the weekend.
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I think they are what you make of them. Sure, there's a lot of hype out there, but you can ignore all that and take the time to make something meaningful out of it. It never hurts to be reminded to do something special for the ones you love.
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I think Valentine's Day does not represent romance as it used to. It has become increasingly commercialized. Receiving a card, flowers or chocolate shouldn't be appreciated more because it was given on Valentine's Day.
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Personally I go with the hype idea. Anyone getting the idea that I'm an unromantic cynic - well you'd probably be right (grin). Really, if that's the only time of year you / your fella can remember to do something nice for each other, then maybe there's an overall problem. And it's so overhyped it's become kind of obligatory. So, no not a day I support or follow.
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I think Valentine's Day is too commercialized.
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I love Valentine's Day. It is a day to celebrate love but there is hype as thereis now with every holiday. Itis up tothe individual to make it what they want.
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I believe that is is too commercialized too as are most holidays. I also think that it is mostly hype and very depressing to those who don't have a sweetie when it rolls around.
Deidre
deidre_durance@hotmail.com
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I think most of it is hype.
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When I was a teen and too in college and not married, I always thought that it was a day to explore those we like and those we are dating to further celebrate it. After being married now so many years, they come with a great kiss, but not celebrating as before, I think because I have my hero and everyday is a celebration for that.
The only thing that gets to me, is those not in a relationship and how it may bother them, sadness, etc, especially the way the media and places have sales and too overdo it to mean more materialistic and that you are 'special' if you have it. I know when I didn't have anyone, I would be sad or jealous when I saw those younger going on a date on Valentine or Sweetest day. I just had to remind myself that my time will come when I have that love.
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I am with Cynthya. I believe also that they are what you make of them. For me it is a reminder that I need to show the people I love how much they mean to me. Sometimes I get so caught up in everyday life that I need that reminder.
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Aye, there's the rub! Hmmm, I love exploring the true meaning behind human nature and these "holidays".
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Oh, I hate to say it, but I would go more for hpye. There is so much pressure on men especially that they "have" to do something romantic that it ruins the "wanting" to do something romantic.
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I think we all should say I love you more often to the ones we love every day of our life no matter the holiday for we may not have tomorrow but I do think that Valentine's Day is surpose to be that special one day we can show more of our love to the ones we do love and a romantic day for all of us to show our mate that we do love them that we will always care for them
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