Written By: Rtr. Sarith Kovilage

The ambience is scented with the fragrance of rose petals; shades of red and pink decorate the atmosphere; all you see everywhere are nothing but hearts, flower bouquets, gifts, and just souls talking silently; all you hear are nothing but the passionate melodies sung by Elvis Presley. Now, they are the signs you are probably on Valentine’s Day, the festival of love.

Celebrated worldwide on February 14^th, Valentine’s Day is a cornerstone of the social and cultural aspects associated with love, romance, & affection, and is often embraced as a catalyst in strengthening the bonds with people that matter to us and fostering togetherness.

The celebrations of Valentine’s Day have been a long-standing tradition across the world, and everyone believes that their love is getting refreshed on this day. Valentine’s Day, however, is not only for lovers; it can be perceived as a festival that embraces the deepening of social connections, too. While for the most part it has been celebrated by people who are in romantic love, modern trends such as Galentine’s Day and Palentine’s Day tend to lean towards non-romantic relationships, such as friendship and platonic love.

The day has many origins, with its roots tracing back till the 3rd century. One of the most popular stories associated with Valentine’s Day is the martyrdom of St. Valentine, a Christian priest. Legends suggest that he secretly supported the marriages of soldiers who were otherwise not allowed to do so, as the Roman Emperor Claudius II believed that single men without wives or family made better soldiers. This led St. Valentine to be imprisoned, during which period he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and famously wrote to her “from your Valentine”. His execution took place on February 14^th, since when it became St. Valentine’s Day. As such, Valentine’s Day is originally a Christian feast day honoring St. Valentine.

The romanticization of the Christian feast into a lovers’ festival began in the 14th century when poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer started associating the feast with love. It became increasingly associated with love when the notions of courtly love emerged. By the 18th century, it has become an occasion for lovers to express their love through exchange of gifts such as confectionery and greeting cards. That marked the dawn for modern day Valentine celebrations.

Celebrations

Celebrations take place all around the world, with greeting cards, chocolates and fresh flowers being prominent gifts among partners. Partners often go out for a romantic date or a movie, and spend some passionate time reserved for themselves while enjoying companionship. Dating venues are seen decorated with hearts, roses and doves, and the ambience is filled with strong romantic fragrances. Love-themed coffee shops, boutiques, and parks would be ubiquitous on the day, and someone would be lucky to be in a love-themed musical concert as well.

While partners focus on enhancing their togetherness, this day is also a stage for people to form new bonds. Therefore, proposing to the fiancé on Valentine’s Day is a very popular trend.

Some countries also have unique celebrations associated with Valentine.

• In Japan, women gift their partners chocolates on Valentine’s Day. On March 14^th, known as the White Day, men reciprocate the act by gifting something back, generally more expensive.
• South Korea celebrates love for months. In addition to Valentine’s Day and White Day, they also celebrate Black Day on April 14^th, which is dedicated for the singles to embrace the single life. 
• Finland’s Valentine’s Day is more into friendships over romantic love. It focuses on embracing the relationships people have with everyone around them and is vital in protecting social circles.
• In Sri Lanka, Valentine’s Day is festively celebrated across various age groups, predominantly among youth. Dating is highly popular, and coffee places and botanical gardens remain prominent venues among couples. Conversely, some people might meet at temples too. Secret gift exchanges, photoshoots and proposals can also be seen more commonly. Hence, Sri Lankan celebrations are often seen as westernized but with traditional elements.

Social and Cultural Aspects

Besides being a feast for loving ones, Valentine’s Day has become a significant amplifier of Relationship Dynamics in both good and bad ways.

Valentine’s Day has set a visible benchmark in measuring the worth of relationships. It has driven people to compare what they receive from their relationships with what others get. This can strengthen bonds when the expectations are met and destroy relationships when not. As such, romance also has a tendency of being material driven over true bonding.

Valentine’s Day has contributed to the mainstreaming of increased prioritization of tangible particulars to prove love, such as gifts, which causes the driveshafts of relationships, such as loyalty, emotional availability, and protection, to be overshadowed by materialistic perks. However, in relationships where the metrics are intangible gestures such as loyalty, Valentine’s Day might become a symbol of love, and celebration would truly help make their love better.

As such, Valentine’s Day has become an integral part of social relationships.

In addition to the social aspect, Valentine’s Day is also the center for a wide array of economic activity. From a roadside boutique selling fresh flowers to an elegant hotel offering valentine staycation, Valentine’s Day has been highly commercialized. While true love can’t be monetized, people utilize such products to enhance their bonds by offering them thoughtfully.

Therefore, Valentine’s Day also becomes a lifeline for many, such as handcraft gift makers, photographers and café owners, making it an important business season that contributes to the national economy.

In conclusion, Valentine’s Day is no longer just a festival for lovers; rather, it is a complex social occasion that encompasses socio-economic contexts too. Hence, on Valentine’s Day, it is important to remind ourselves to strengthen the bonds by focusing on the emotional façade of love without being deceived by the commercialization of romance.

True love doesn’t have a day or time. Yet Valentine’s Day is worth celebrating!