‘Fever’ on February 14
Despite having a lonely heart, Valentine’s Day can be a day for
renewed affection especially when you least expect it. Someone may
already be loving you but you wouldn’t know of it when it’s February
14th and you receive a Valentine’s card from a secret admirer. “I know
I’m single but that doesn’t mean I can’t think of my family and friends
on Valentine’s Day,” said a single heart.
However, Valentine’s Day is not for lovers but for everyone from
family to even a co-worker where you can be secretive when it comes to
revelations about love. “The best part about Valentine’s Day is having
an opportunity to let a person know how you feel, secretly or publicly,”
said a colleague.
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Saint Valentine had lost his life in the name of love |
She further said, “Compared to the rest of the days in the year, it
really counts on Valentine’s Day.” The fact that this day is positive
and the feeling is good as ‘love is in the air’. A sales assistant,
Manuri said: “The romantic love songs being played, the happy couples
walking hand-in-hand, the flirty smiles passed, the whole atmosphere of
Valentine’s Day empowers you even if you don’t celebrate it.”
History suggests that a Roman Catholic saint Valentine had lost his
life in the name of love but the Wikipedia refers to it as a holiday:
“named after among the numerous Early Christian martyrs (three are
popular) named St. Valentine. 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.”
In Sri Lanka, many religious leaders have shunned this belief saying
that it is a borrowed concept from Europe planted in Sri Lanka for
commercial purposes.
Some time back, the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Lanka Meditation
Centre, the most Ven. Harispattuwe Ariyalankara declared a ‘Day of
Morals’ to be observed by the country’s youth in a bid to dismiss
Valentine’s Day.
It is rather interesting to note that the Valentine’s Day craze
started only recently and many have even gone far by marketing a
Valentine’s Collection lingerie to make the most of what the day has to
offer.
Buddhists still do not celebrate it in a public way but the youth
still do whatever they can do to show how much they care for their loved
one.
A 20-year old student Angika said, “I agree that it isn’t good to
celebrate Valentine’s Day as it just another day but it’s rather fun to
see some girls and guys exchange gifts and hand-made cards with poems
and verses.”
Yet another student said: “As I’m single I don’t do anything but if I
was in a relationship, I think I’d at least spend time with the person I
love instead of buying expensive presents.”
The decorations and cupids also add romance to the atmosphere and it
has to be highlighted that you wouldn’t really pick a fight on
Valentine’s Day.
There are plenty of those who support Valentine’s Day and those who
don’t and there are many who thrive on the profits that can be reaped by
the Valentine’s Day craze.
While hotels have romantic Valentine’s Day dinners, there are special
parties with Valentine’s Day theme nights and special Valentine’s
goodies that you can buy your lover.
Leading jewelry stores and florists are now getting ready to handle
the crowds and now, online shopping allows people to gift their loved
one from the privacy and comfort of their home.
While anti-Valentine’s Day campaigners tell how western culture has
affected us, we all have no choice but to endure the mania that is known
as Valentine’s Day.
ND |
