By Muhammad Umar Shehu and Dangana Henry Joseph
The much awaited valentine day, also known and call by the youth as “lovers day” is much around the corner, this is so as many young boys and girls have started making frantic efforts to make the day colourful to suit their aims.
Nowadays, the message and aim of valentine day have been abused by young boys and girls. This depict the original essence of valentine as was it was intended by Saint Valentine
Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14.
Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England.
Saint Valentine, who according to some sources is actually two distinct historical characters who were said to have healed a child while imprisoned and executed by decapitation.
The history of Valentine’s Day—and the story of its patron saint—is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient ritual.
Who Was the Real St. Valentine?
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were jailed.
Going by the idea behind valentine, it is supposed to be a day of sober reflection on the plights of the needy, helping the vulnerable, praying for the unity and we’ll being of our nation and also exchange of charity to all regardless of any benefits that we tend to gain from the person.
But sad to note that many young boys and girls have misconception about the day, there by turning it to be a time for sexual immorality, fun fare, drinking all different types of alcoholic drinks, taking of drugs and all other forms of evil are committed by young boys and girls during valentine.
Now less than a week for a day of awful fornication and other sinful practice that some of our youths engage themselves in and it sort not to happen because at that vary day a lots sinful acts use to happen.
Many people are been shopping online and at stores for valentine’s day gift to delight their other half at some expensive joint and clubs why not use such amount to serve humanity and help the indigent people around us.
This is a high time we create awareness for people who engaged themselves in this iniquitous acts for them to stop such objectionable acts for the betterment of our country.
By looking at how our you make this iniquitous acts normal in our society one may say some measures need to be put in place to tackle such phenomena because to me such activities are not part of socialisation.
By the way Happy Valentines 8n advance to people who engaged themselves in this iniquitous acts.
What an opposite of valentine celebration?
Food for thought!
Umar and Dangana can be reached via umarshehu887@gmail.com 08035794769Josephdangana2021@gmail.com
