By TIONE NDHLOVU
WITH just a day before Valentine’s, I could not resist but say this. Of course it was after my observation of the frenzy. Everybody seems to be getting ready for the day, anyone wearing red is definitely going to draw attention, and yes I made the mistake of wearing all red the other day. I agree the shoes were stunning but all around everybody was convinced it was the Valentine fever. I will not refuse I love the colour and half my wardrobe is red, I mean mention it crimson, rose, deep red, blood red and whatever other shed there is I most probably have it.
My question is, what’s with red and Valentine? Has it always been a tradition that red is the love colour or that Valentine has always been a romantic celebration? Well, this is what I found out.
I obviously decided to read about it, truly what I found baffled me. It is known from ancient tradition that the colour red represents life, love, war and death, all these being passions of expression in their own sense and Adam, who was named by God himself, has his name in original Hebrew which translates as either life or red.
This is pretty interesting and with it you may think it is the origin of the valentine celebration or maybe associated with it but not all.
The first ever Valentine celebration dates back to 469 C.E where Pope Gelasuis I decided to name February 14 St Valentine’s day which was aimed at honouring the young valentine of Rome who was martyred by Emperor Clauduis II in AD 289 for refusing to give up Christianity and marrying soldiers in secret who were refused to get married while in military service to make them more efficient and effective.
Now with this you may think that this is all there is but it is also believed that another young priest by the name of Valentine of Terni was martyred in AD 197. even though his death was much earlier, his story is the one that had something to do with romance as it is known that while in prison he fell in love with a young woman with whom they exchanged poems and just before his death he had written a note to her that was signed from ‘your Valentine’.
It is pretty perplexing, however, that even with these very touchy stories, commemoration of February 14 as St Valentine’s Day was to kill the initial pagan fertility celebration by the Romans called ‘Lupercalia’; that involved young men picking names of young ladies placed in a hat, a name picked would entail accompanying that young man to a public presentation that involved spanking and ilicit sexual behaviour.
After this moment up to today, the tradition has spread to Britain, America, Africa and now almost the whole world celebrates this gesture of love. Actually crazy romantics like some of the men and women I know go frantic with romance during this period and more especially on the day itself.
But here is the gist of the celebration, the St Valentine for whom this day is mostly known had received love from all over. men, women and children were all writing him poems to thank him for the wonderful work and one miracle he is known for; of healing one of the soldier’s young child who was apparently very ill.
So! as you are getting excited about this month of love, who are you thinking of?
Is it only about that one special person? Spread the love by visiting a prisoner, someone in hospital, a long lost relative or forgiving someone. For where there are cakes, flowers, cards, chocolates etc they will pass away but love never passes away; that visit, forgiveness or charity you will do will always be remembered and your love will stand the taste of time. Just like Valentine.
Happy valentine.
The author is the proprietor of Enoit Consultancy, a writer, trainer and consultant in career/personal development.
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