When we hear the feast of St. Valentine, the most generalized comment is: «bah! That’s a trend that businesses have invented to sell more! «. Certainly, the business is behind this date and many others, like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. But the truth is that everyone, in one way or another, celebrate the day of love. We take this opportunity to be detail if we are not in our daily life, and if we are, it’s time to give the best of ourselves.
We want to dedicate this week’s post to Valentine, Cupid and his influence. Because knowing the festivities today from its origin makes them have a new perspective.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine was a priest of the Roman Empire who practiced his profession under the government of Claudius II. What did this priest that after centuries is still present? Emperor Claudius II believed that young single soldiers were more efficient than those who were emotionally attached to a partner, as their concerns were less. He banned marriage and Valentin did not seem that decree fair so he started to celebrate marriages in secret.
When Claudius discovered this practice, He ordered to execute Valentine on February 14 of the year 270.
It was in 494 with the expansion of Christianity, when Pope Gelasius I established this date to honour the priest making it Saint Valentine’s Day and celebrating love’s day. For what purpose? Banning the pagans offerings on 15th February.
This is the most extended history to give meaning to Valentine’s Day, but there are other «Valentines» that are also attributed to this day.
Cupid
Other icon associated with Valentine’s Day is Cupid. This character is from Greek mythologywith the name of Eros (god of love) son of Aphrodite (goddess of fertility) and Ares (god of war). Being ancient myths, Eros parenthood is disputed and depends on the author we read, but after all, just conveying the same message and moral. In Roman mythology, Eros is known as Cupid, Aphrodite as Cupid.
Cupid is represented by a winged young man wearing a blindfold (because love is blind, no one chooses who to love) and carrying two types of arrows: golden with pigeon feathers which hadthe power of love instantly of those that were crossed by one of them; and lead and owl feathers, which cause indifference.
Its mission was to help his mother to spread the love between gods and mortals, and being descendant of the goddess of love, Cupid lived in his own person disagreements of love with his human beloved, Psyche (representing the soul). The Story we find in «The Metamorphosis» (Apuleius), in which the love’s story between them is counted and, as a good Greek myth, it has his romantic and tragic part.
We have associated this day in Spain exclusively to couples in love but in many other countries the feeling of love is celebrated in all its forms, as friendship. Any excuse is good to have a detail with those who we love (partner, family, friends …) and if we need a day … is welcome!
From Singularstays we want you to live this special day and for that we offer the best accommodation you can find in Valencia. So if you decide to live a different Valentine’s Day… We will be waiting!
