It’s as if Picasso drank a strawberry smoothie and vomited all over the place. As Valentine ’s Day approaches the increased ratio of pink and red decorations can be alarming.
Most people don’t know the origins of the saintly holiday, and many believe it was simply invented by Hallmark as a genius marketing scheme. The truth is, while companies like Hallmark may have taken advantage of an existing celebration, it has a long history.
As NPR explained last year, Valentine’s Day is a culmination of two formerly separate holidays: the first one being Lupercalia, from the Romans (how Romantic it was). This holiday featured goat and dog sacrifices, followed by whipping of the towns women with the animal hides.
The holiday climaxed with the matchmaking ceremony where men and women were coupled off and made away with each other for the remainder of the festival.
The second origin story is of the execution of two men named Valentine in Rome on Feb. 14th in the 3rd century A.D. who were celebrated as martyrs by the catholic church.
These days there are significantly less goat and dog sacrifices, and practically no public whippings. Modern day Valentine’s Day is an indulgence in greeting cards, candy, and flowers. IBISWorld puts American love spending at around 18 billion dollars each year for the event. Many feel obligated to celebrate, but many others try to celebrate in rebellion, or less conventional forms.
In Portland for instance, there is the “Love Stinks, Let’s Drink” Anti-Valentine’s Day bus tour. The advertising campaign for this alternative boasts; “Swingin’ single on V.D.? Congratulations! They say, if you can’t get laid on the Barfly Bus, you’re probably dead.”
“V.D.” may not be the best abbreviation for such a holiday, but even the anti-greeting card groups are finding a way to make a buck off of it.
Celebrate your hearts out, and for those with no one to party with make sure to observe SAD (Singles Awareness Day).
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