I live in South Africa. There’s a great number of people who
don’t really care about Valentines Day, well, I am not sure about the exact
number. With only seven days before the lover’s day - I look at this day and what does it really mean and its origins.
Firstly let’s look at the meaning and history of this so
called V-Day - Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day, or the
Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on February 14 each year. It is
celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working
day in most of them. It is the second most celebrated holiday around the world
second to New Year's Day.
St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one
or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular Martyrology
associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing
weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to
Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his
imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius.
Legend states that before his execution he wrote "from your
Valentine" as a farewell to her. Today, Saint Valentine's Day is an
official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran
Church.
So with the history above, do you at least
believe in it? You'll also find those who
see it as a waste of money and it should not be important at all, though to some
lovers it is a day to cherish their love for each-other.
A friend of mine whose a journalist, told me that for him
this V-Day does not mean anything. To him, the day gives excuses for retailers
to commercialize love which in his opinion should not be the case. He said that
the same thing has been done about Christmas day. He further told me that the
business sector diluted the meaning and the purpose of these days.
“I believe in everyday
love and spoiling your loved ones as often as you can. Besides, I do not like
being told how to celebrate love” said Dimakatso Mokwena.
He added, “I would rather
celebrate it the best way I know how without letting shops dictate to me. Gifts
don't equal love. You can buy gifts for the one you love but if you cheat and
or abuse the person, it cannot make up for your actions.”
I agree with Mokwena when
he says we should do away with the day because stores are ripping people off
just for one day.
This day for me is just
another ‘belief stereotype’ – so it’s entirely up to you to tag along or not.
So I know most South African’s will bring out their cultural stereotypes to
condemn V-Day because they believe in blah blah and blah blah! It’s not like
all and all just like marriage. What do you say?
By Buchule Raba | @BuchuleB | Who's Who SA | editor@goxtranews.com
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