2008 Woodie Awards
Valentines Day: the real meaning
Kelly Daley
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Features
Love is in the air, everywhere you look today.
Chocolates and flowers, teddy bears and candies, are some typical clichés of Valentines Day, but do we really know the true meaning behind this loveable holiday?
"It's a time to remember the special people that make your life special," said sophomore Kalani Efstathiou.
Valentine's Day has become a widely celebrated holiday in which people buy their sweetheart presents and celebrate one another's love.
According to newadvent.org, a Catholic encyclopedia, the holiday is actually Saint Valentines Day.
One theory is that the popular customs associated with Valentine's Day originated from the English belief in the Middle Ages that the birds began to find their mates halfway through February-hence the date of Feb. 14.
"I'm excited to do something nice with my boyfriend. I think we're going to dinner and Valentines Day is a nice time to celebrate being with one another," said junior Sue Ventura.
Valentines Day has become more of a pop culture celebration than a celebration of a saint's lifetime. Some people see it as an opportunity.
"Valentine's Day leaves women feeling sentimental. During Valentines Day, it's the only time of the year where women find secret admirers not creepy and your luck increases," said junior Grant Schoenthaler.
Others see it much differently.
"I don't think much of it because I'm not in a relationship, so it's just another day for me," said senior Kristen D'Almeida.
Pictureframes.co.uk delivers more possible theories on the origin of Valentine's Day. "Legend…says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine."
Chocolates and flowers, teddy bears and candies, are some typical clichés of Valentines Day, but do we really know the true meaning behind this loveable holiday?
"It's a time to remember the special people that make your life special," said sophomore Kalani Efstathiou.
Valentine's Day has become a widely celebrated holiday in which people buy their sweetheart presents and celebrate one another's love.
According to newadvent.org, a Catholic encyclopedia, the holiday is actually Saint Valentines Day.
One theory is that the popular customs associated with Valentine's Day originated from the English belief in the Middle Ages that the birds began to find their mates halfway through February-hence the date of Feb. 14.
"I'm excited to do something nice with my boyfriend. I think we're going to dinner and Valentines Day is a nice time to celebrate being with one another," said junior Sue Ventura.
Valentines Day has become more of a pop culture celebration than a celebration of a saint's lifetime. Some people see it as an opportunity.
"Valentine's Day leaves women feeling sentimental. During Valentines Day, it's the only time of the year where women find secret admirers not creepy and your luck increases," said junior Grant Schoenthaler.
Others see it much differently.
"I don't think much of it because I'm not in a relationship, so it's just another day for me," said senior Kristen D'Almeida.
Pictureframes.co.uk delivers more possible theories on the origin of Valentine's Day. "Legend…says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine."
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