"...The modern Saint Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. Popular legend has it that under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues because the Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. Saint Valentine aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and  beaten to death with clubs and had his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed. The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of Saints for those of maidens. 

And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way..." 

And here is the modern day version...

An anxious beau braves the snow and sub zero temperatures in the middle of the night, to place these handmade placards in a conspicuous roundabout in our apartment complex. He or she has about 9 hours time, before the said Meahgan, wakes up..gets dressed and decides to drive out of the complex....or the landscape crew decide to play Grinch..ahem..and take the signs down. whichever is earlier.!!

Touching right? I love Valentine's Day. It is as good a day as any to profess your love to your significant other..or your dad..or your mom..or your daughter, neighbor, grandmother, mailman, doorman and yes, even your work spouse! Yes..What originated as a commemoration of a 4th century clash between priest and a ruler, is now a commercial megathon shopping event which raises collective expectation at the idea or receiving a Valentine (as even a single long stemmed rose, card or heart shaped chocolate, is now called) from a poor (have you seen the prices out there?), unimaginative soul who is, thankfully, not short of ideas anymore, courtesy, the reminders and suggestions from all the targeted advertising in his smartphone, email and Facebook profile!! Phew!! Happy Valentine's Day!

I remember the time when I was single, I used to dread Valentine's Day. Me, and all my other single friends would get together and buy each other long stemmed roses, make a night out of it, cussing the commercial fanfare that our committed friends were partaking in, at the same time secretly hoping that it was our turn this year. We did not turn off our phones right until the phone clock showed 12:01, 15th February. We refreshed our emails..checked and rechecked our text messages .. We knew we were being victims to the whole cycle of repressed expectation that the media, the greeting card companies, the malls, the florists and the whole world in general, set up for that day. I remember even going home early one particular Valentine's Day from work, because I could not bear the fact that the girl across the desk from me had 12 dozen long stemmed roses delivered to her hour on hour, on the hour. She was twittering (the old fashioned way..Thank Heavens!) and gushing effusively... and the heady floral fragrance was giving me a headache...Sorry. I love you..but my head rules my heart!

Do you know how the numbers stack up? It is a $16 Billion industry. Not a pittance mind you, recovery or not! Lets look at 10 incredible facts about this 16B$ Valentine Day shopapalooza.

• 53% of women in America would dump their boyfriends if they did not get them anything for Valentine's Day
• The average U.S. consumer is expected to spend $116.21 on Valentine's Day gifts, meals, and entertainment
• Men spend double what women spend on Valentine's day: $158.71 compared to $75.79
• 141 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged worldwide and an estimated 198 million roses were produced for Valentine's Day in 2010; about 110 million roses, mostly red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period this year
• People will spend $1.7 billion on flowers this Valentine's Day -- 73% are bought by men, 27% by women
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's day
• Chocolate and candy sales reach profits of $1,011 billion
• Spending on jewelry is expected to reach $3.5 billion this holiday; 17.3% of people are likely to buy it
• 11% of Americans will be engaged on Valentine's Day
• According to a Durex survey, condom sales are highest around Valentine's Day -- 20 to 30% more than usual

Enough said...I sometimes wonder, if we did not have these commercially declared excuses to spend money, how would the economy be stimulated? Does Washington have anything to do with Valentine's Day??
Closer to home..How long will Meghan and her beau survive this fresh, sweet, unconditional love which has nothing to do with expectation..if she decides to say Yes?

Let's talk!!!