Is St. Valentine's Day Over Commercialized

Valentine’s Day is Catholic

Valentine's Day is a wonderful time of year where both Catholic and secular people celebrate the love (either romantic or platonic) that we have for each other. You may recognize it by the fanciful lace and heart shaped displays or by the flying baby named “Cupid” wielding a bow and arrow that makes people fall in love?—all saturated in pinks, reds, and purples. If these images sound a bit ridiculous to you, then maybe commercialism has gone too far. Valentine’s Day is unfortunately another victim of over-commercialization of a Holy Day.

Valentines’ Day has become increasingly commercialized over the years, with retailers and businesses promoting the holiday as only a day to buy gifts, cards, and other items to express affection for one another. This emphasis on spending money detracts from the true meaning of the day. The commercialization of Valentine's Day has also been criticized for pressuring our society into buying gifts and participating in the holiday, regardless of their feelings towards it. However, others see Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express their love and appreciation for others, and the commercialization of the holiday as a way to support local businesses and the economy. Little do those participating in this day know, the very root of the holiday came from the Catholic, SAINT Valentine.

So let’s unpack the Catholic origins and who the man was behind the holiday. Saint Valentine is actually one of the most celebrated Catholic saints in the world. His feast day, is celebrated annually, and people observe this day by taking time to express love and affection to their family and friends. Some of Saint Valentine’s life remains mysterious and undocumented, but in all iterations, he is revered for his bravery, selflessness, and dedication to the Church.

There are several accounts of Saint Valentine's life, according to one of the most widely agreed upon accounts, Saint Valentine was a Christian priest who lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. At that time, Claudius II had banned marriage because he believed that single men made better soldiers for his army. However, Saint Valentine believed in what the church taught, that marriage was a sacred union ordained by God, and that we must do anything to protect and facilitate it especially during these difficult times. Despite the risk of execution, It was his priestly duty to uphold the tradition of marriage and so, he continued to perform weddings in secret.

When Claudius II found out about Saint Valentine's defiance, he ordered his execution immediately. As the story goes, while Saint Valentine was awaiting his execution in prison, he fell in love with the jailer's daughter, who visited him regularly. On the day of his execution, he wrote a letter to her and signed it, "From your Valentine." This is believed to be the origin of the Valentine's Day cards that people exchange today.

Regardless of the specific details of his life, Saint Valentine is revered as a powerful symbol of love, compassion, and devotion to God. For obvious reason, he is also considered the patron saint of engaged couples, love, and marriage. Now that you know who St. Valentine is, let’s address the flying baby in the room. Cupid is a character based from Greek mythology. A god by a different name, Eros, was a large and muscular man known to be unstoppable because of his ability to make individuals fall in love by being struck with his magic arrows. Renaissance art depicted this god as a baby with feathered wings and the same bow and arrow. Eventually, this artwork began to be used for postage stamps in America. Sending Valentine’s post cards became a cheap and easy way to celebrate the season, and this character from the stamps, found it’s way into the holiday imagery we see today.

While we love characters, Cupid has no business in the imagery of Valentine’s day except in the interest of marketing the commercialized version of the holiday to the masses. In the Catholic celebration of this holiday, Saint Valentine is celebrated on February 14th, and this feast day is marked by special masses and prayers. Many Catholics also make pilgrimages to his shrines and relics, which are located in various parts of the world.

Saint Valentine's legacy continues to inspire people around the world, and his message of love and devotion to God remains as relevant today as it was centuries ago. On Valentine's Day, people exchange cards, flowers, and chocolates as a symbol of their love and affection for one another. However, it is important to remember the true meaning of the day and to honor Saint Valentine's memory by expressing love and compassion to everyone, especially to those we love.