Reclaiming Valentine's Day
O n my way home from dropping Genevieve off at early choir, two radio hosts discussed Valentine's Day. One of the hosts, a divorced woman, claimed she hated the holiday, and presented a list of why it was better to remain single. Not getting married until in my thirties, I appreciated her perspective, but pondered the significance of this day. In the United States, Valentine's Day has become the florists', greeting card companies', and restaurants' money making holiday where couples feel pressured to display their love by doling out cash. You hear a lot of griping this time of year. "This is just Hallmark's way of making money" (I was thinking this when looking at their $7.99 cards). "My wife knows I love her, why do I have to spend so much on flowers?" "Who has time to go out for dinner?" The holiday has its roots in an actual person, Saint Valentine , who was beheaded on this day for illegally