To Love Is To Live: Valentine’s Day

It is Valentine’s Day, yet again! It is that yearly phase when the air is charged with the aroma of roses. Even as we usher in this ‘Lover’s day’, lets take a peek at the facts that make it special.

Legends are aplenty on the origin(s) of Valentine’s Day. One theory asserts that Valentine was a young priest devoted to uniting distanced lovers. Another belief describes Valentine as a victim of tragic love, who signed his love letter, ‘From your Valentine’! This was the first recorded valentine card, and the phrase is put to good use even today. The validity of these stories is shrouded in mystery, but the young priest’s romantic bravado carried an universal appeal that continues to charm lovers even today!

Many claim that love cannot be confined to a calendar date. Love, for these claimants, flows freely in bountiful supply! Others, however, argue that there is a need to dedicate a day to pamper ‘that special someone’ exclusively. Valentine’s day, which is an integrated part of the European tradition, has caused youthful hearts to throb in many an Asian metro. In India, adolescent boys and girls step beyond their monetary means in an effort to woo and to win. Some of them choose this day to mollify a miffed sweetheart. Passion is engulfed by consumerism as pricey gifts are exchanged. Many young lovers suffer from ‘a -hole-in-the- wallet’ syndrome, which often takes days to recover!

There are ‘wet blankets’ too doing the rounds to douse the flames of youthful vigor. The ‘moral police’ work overtime to curb the pheromone spill in public places. Although bawdiness is not welcome in a civil society, it is important not to infringe upon a person’s right to express his/her feelings, as long as it is consensual and not a public eye sore.

‘Love and Let Others Love’ should be the punch line for this year’s Valentine’s Day. For after all it would be apt to remember that, ‘To Love is to Live’!

Source-Medindia
Dr. REEJA THARU/M