Love is in the air !

Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day, a day of love and appreciation- whether it be platonic or romantic- takes place every year, on the 14th February. The celebration originated as a Christian Feast Day. However, traditions have since evolved, and it is now significantly associated to love and romance.

Valentine’s Day was established in AD 496 by the Bishop of Rome at that time, Pope Gelasius I. It was created in remembrance of Saint Valentine of Rome who passed away on that very date. As time went on and we neared the 14th and 15th centuries, the idea of “courting” alongside chivalry became very popular, and became linked to Valentine’s Day.

Nowadays, people express their love through red roses, heart shaped candies, boxes of chocolates and sweet love notes with heartfelt messages. However, I feel that Valentine’s Day is often overly-romanticised, mainly through films and TV shows. While many dream of having someone special to spend this time with, it nearly always remains a dream. It also became one of the most commercialised holidays as the years went by. People basically throw money towards the big, heart shaped boxes of chocolates displayed on the windows, the freshest bouquet of red roses they can find, and they also pour their hearts into speeches of affection for their significant other. The amount of time and money that goes into this annual holiday shows exactly how high standards are nowadays, and the numbers just keep on rising every year.

Spend Valentine’s with those you love and care about. There’s no need to be in a relationship to celebrate Valentine’s Day; go out and enjoy the day with friends, or spoil yourself with some sweet treats and movies. Most importantly, have a great time with your favourite people and spread the love!

- Nethraa Vigneswaran