OK, let me get this out of the way first: Yes, I dressed the girl in her little Valentine’s Day outfit for daycare this morning. And yes, she looked cute. But all the same, allow me to insert a peremptory and curmudgeonly growl in advance of Valentine’s Day. Somewhere along the line, in Chaucer’s time I guess, the feast day of Saint Valentine became a day for celebrating romantic love. Then, roughly a century and a half ago, it started to get commercialized, and thus began the slow shift in focus from romantic love to platonic love. For purveyors of candy or greeting cards, this is a boon, as it broadens the market for their wares on this day. But all the same it just seems wrong to me. Understand, I’m still clinging mentally to the image of this as a holiday for lovers, a time to celebrate romantic passions. I’d just like to keep the kids out of it. My infant daughter already has already gotten two Valentine’s cards, and who knows how many more are coming. I’ve got nothing against platonic love. But does anyone else find this as creepy as I do?
Valentine
Published inHoly Daze
I think the peers of Charlie Brown found it creepy, too.
Yeah, societal groupthink is creepy in general. She’s going to have some trouble defending dad’s opinions once she learns to talk 🙂 I’m sure she’ll adopt the same aversion to commercialism.
Re-read this post when she is 5-7YO and tell us what you think then.
The BBC news wire had a great article on this. Apparently the Vatican would like us to distinguish between St. Valentine, saint of those already in love, and St. Raphael, saint of those who seek love. I suspect that this is more than Hallmark could handle.
Yes, I do find it creepy, but I suspect you will find Persephone’s first foray into romantic love even creepier 🙂