The Creepiness Of Valentines Day

Introduction

St Valentine was martyred on 14th February 269 AD according to some commentaries. He was beaten with clubs and finally beheaded.

In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia was observed February 13–15 on behalf of Pan and Juno, pagan gods of love, marriage and fertility. It was a rite connected to purification and health, and had only slight connection to fertility (as a part of health) and none to love. The celebration of Saint Valentine is not known to have had any romantic connotations until Chaucer's poetry about "Valentine's Day" in the 14th century, some seven hundred years after celebration of Lupercalia is believed to have ceased

So After The Violence, Why The Creepiness?

So, when I became first aware of Valentine's Day, it was send a card to a girl you fancied but don't let them know who it was. I thought this concept was weird, because if they didn't know that you had sent it then how would they know that you liked them? Were they mindreaders? Would they recognise your writing?

That was then but we are now, and thanks to the digital world, and the way I am writing this, getting communications and gifts from people you don't know starts to become creepy. That's what stalkers do.

I have included two songs, one well known, one not so well-known (though it should be) but these are incredibly creepy because there is no love, just total control, with implications that things will not turn out well for the subject if the protagonist doe not get their subjugation.

The Police song is often portrayed as romantic but if you listen to it properly you will see that it is all about control.

Even in my twenties, so that is the late seventies and early eighties, when I girl got a card or flowers from a secret admirer it was seen as a fun thing, but looking back now it was just as creepy as it would be now. We all have a little more privacy and fear of things that we can't track. I sometimes get things through the post and wonder who has sent them and why. I usually eventually work out that it is something that I ordered that I have forgotten about or something that a friend from the other side of the world has sent me.

Just think what it must be like for a vulnerable person to receive an unknown delivery, their mind may go into overdrive, but they will not be able to hook their thoughts to anything.

Valentine's Day purports to be about Love when really it is just another commercial venture to part you from your money. Restaurants have special Valentine's Meals suitably inflated for the occasion.

If you love someone, talk to them, tell them how you feel. Buy flowers and chocolates but make sure they know they are from you. If they like you they may be swayed and over time that might turn into love, but it does need to be based on honesty and reciprocity.

"I Love You" is an arrangement of nine letters that can mean so much, but when used improperly can hurt so much. Remember Jesus Christ was betrayed by an apparent act of love when Judas kissed him.

True Love can help you make a wonderful life, but it does not need Valentine's Day trinkets, especially with the awful backstories, so many religious dates concentrate on death when a good religion would concentrate on Love and Care for your fellow humans and animals.

Conclusion

Enjoy your Valentine's Day but make sure everything thing is upfront for the subject of your attention.