St. Valentines day – a day in honour of Love and Affection.

Valentines day – where does it come from

The legend says that Valentine was a Christian priest who wed Christian couples in Rome. For doing this he was beheaded by the Emperor Claudius I on the 14th of February. As it so happens, another Valentine, also a Christian priest, was beheaded the next year on the same date, by the same Emperor for similar reasons. The Catholic church later made Valentine into a saint.

Why were both beheaded on the same day? The Romans were pretty bloodthirsty and at this time of the year they celebrated the arrival of spring and a lot of sacrifices were made to the Gods to ensure the rebirth into a new fruitful year. In fact most pre-Christian religions have some kind of celebration in February greeting the Spring, celtic Imbolc is one, yes celebrated on another date and another Saint… Brigid who indeed also was an Irish pre Christian goddess, but still the same or similar intent! Love, fertility and rebirth.

Celebrate

Valentines day is a great opportunity and a wonderful reminder that we are blessed with a new year, we made it through January and a new spring is just around the corner. Of course we shall think of our loved ones and of course we shall splash out on flowers, cards etc to let our special ones know we love them dearly. But don’t forget this is also a brilliant opportunity to think of the most important person!

YOU!!!

What to do!

Celebrate Valentines day! Take this time to really soak up the first rays of that fabulous spring sun. Break free from the everyday normal, show appreciation. You do not need to do it the Roman way, but please use those magic words, THANK YOU!! Say Thank you to the sun for reappearing after a long winter. Say Thank you to the snowdrops for dressing the garden for this joyous occasion. Say Thank you to the rainbows for making your life a little more technicolour. Say Thank you for all the LOVE around us. You may or may not have a special someone but please don’t let this keep you from immersing yourself in the eternal sea of LOVE. Open your eyes, smile, say hello to the homeless guy on the corner, help the old lady with the door, let someone drive before you. Be kind and open yourself to kindness flowing your way. Love is all around, you just got to train your eye to see it.