Valentine Day
February 14th is the day on which anxious romantics around the world await to be told, in one way or another, “I love you.”
The roots of Valentine Day can be traced back to ancient Greece, where worship of Pan flourished. Pan is the mythical half-man-half-goat fertility god. He had a wild, unpredictable personality that made most humans terrified. Makes sense that the English word “panic” literally means “of Pan.”
Pan was supposed to watch the flocks while playing his pipes. He was, however, easily distracted. Pan had many love affairs with nymphs and goddesses. Among them were Aphrodite (the goddess of love) and Eros (the god of love). Eros is depicted much like the Cupid found on valentines today.
Faunus, another Roman god is also depticted like Pan, half-man-half-goat. Faunus was worshiped on February 15 at an orgy called Lupercalia. During this orgy, scantily clad men raced around a hill, brandishing goatskin whips. Women who wanted to bear children stood near the path of these runners. Striking a woman with a whip, the Romans believed, would ensure her fertility.
Lupercalia was abolished in the late fifth century C.E. Today we find a similar modern-day holiday called: “Saint Valentine’s Day.”
It is said that Roman emperor Claudius II forbade young men to marry. Valentine, a priest, married young couples secretly. Some say that he was executed on February 14, about 269 C.E.
Well, ladies and gents, it looks like Valentine Day doesn't have a very savory history. I think I'll abstain. I've found that year-round expressions of love are a much better way of showing someone you care.
2-14-03@1:25 p.m.