A DAY OF GIVING AND RECEIVING LOVE-14th Feb,(St.Valentine’s day)- By…Dr.Sunil Chopra
The day of exchanging love and affection (St.Valentine’s day) is celebrated across the world on 14th Feb in the name of Saint Valentine (a clergyman) of Rome. Born in 226 AD, Terni, Italy he is widely recognised as 3rd century Roman saint, commemorated in Christianity on this day. Since long this day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love.
‘VALENTINUS’ is basically derived from the Latin ‘Valens’ synonymous with strong and healthy. Factually speaking valentine is a card sent anonymously to one whom you love or are attracted to on this day. Around the world candies,roses,hearts and other gifts are exchanged between friends and beloved quite enthusiastically.
The history of the day can be smoothly traced to the ancient Roman ritual of LUPERCALIA (an ancient pre-Roman pastoral annual festival) that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England. It is thought that as a part of celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box and made them friends.
The Indian youth must keep in mind that this day is not just earmarked for sending cards/gifts only to your sweethearts but also to friends, members of the family ,husbands and wives .
Valentine’s day gives us an opportunity to express our love to all our near and dear ones. On this day in India too the stores look awesome, get beautifully decorated and burst at the seams with exquisite and exotic gifts and cards. Some children prefer to make cards themselves but slowly the custom of exchanging cards is dying a slow death.
Dr.Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana-India. 9815574644