A Man's Perspective on Valentine's Day

In shopping malls, there’s no escaping the hearts and chubby babies with bows; temporarily single young people, full of new energy, are looking for a date for the evening, while gray-haired men with beer bellies will occasionally buy flowers for their aging wives. This holiday, brimming with artificial romanticism, delights some and infuriates others. (В основном в зависимости от того, как сложилась личная жизнь)

Theories on the Origins of Valentine's Day

It is believed that Saint Valentine was a real historical figure. He was a doctor and a priest who secretly married Roman soldiers—not to each other, but to their beloved women. That would have been fine, but in doing so, he was disobeying an order from Emperor Claudius II, who believed that single soldiers fought better and that women had no place in the army anyway. Valentine, of course, was executed on February 14—hence the holiday.

According to another account, Valentine was a secret Christian who decided to marry his servants. As it happened, they were caught in the act. Since Valentine himself was of noble birth, he was merely reprimanded, while his servants were sentenced to death. From there, accounts of the events differ. Either Valentine sneaked into the prison, persuaded the guard to exchange the servants’ lives for his own, and was executed. Or he simply sent them a postcard—the first Valentine’s card—while they were in prison. The blind girl who was sent to deliver the message (logical, isn’t it?) regained her sight and became a beauty.

These are charming legends, but, as with any mythology, they aren't entirely accurate.

However, it’s almost certain that Valentine’s Day is closely linked to the more ancient pagan festival of Lupercalia. The purpose of the festival was simple: to boost the birth rate. Like any good leader, the Roman emperors were always short on subjects. Mortality rates were high, and medicine was next to nonexistent.

The issue was resolved by a simple ritual. Once a year on the Palatine Hill, young goats and dogs were sacrificed. This was followed by a festive meal with copious amounts of wine. Afterward, strips of the animals’ hides were handed out to nimble, drunken young men. Naked young men ran through Rome, lashing any women they encountered with these whips. It was believed that whoever was struck would become as fertile as the Krasnodar Region, and her children would all be a fine bunch—thirty-three mighty heroes. At the end of the festival, everyone stripped down and, naked and drunk… went home. Probably.

Over time, this cheerful custom was deemed outdated and replaced by Valentine's Day, just as had happened with many other pagan holidays that the party could not bring itself to abolish.

We wouldn't even know about all these old stories if it weren't for English poets and Hallmark.

In the 14th century, poets from Foggy Albion recalled this holiday in their poems and ballads, imbuing it with romance, and in the 17th century, the tradition of exchanging secret love notes began. In some places, it didn’t stop at hearts. Young men would draw slips of paper with girls’ names on them, and for the rest of the day, they would become a couple. And then—whatever happens, happens.

Well, Hallmark was the first company to see an opportunity to make money from the holiday, and in the nineteenth century it began mass-producing greeting cards. Since then, Valentine’s Day has turned into a business worth $20 billion in the United States alone.

Lovers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Europe, Argentina, and other countries send each other love notes, buy flowers and chocolates, and give each other jewelry and precious stones. In the Philippines, mass weddings are even common. It’s not uncommon for 200 couples to get married at the same time.

From the Anglo-Saxon world, Valentine's Day has gradually made its way to us here in the post-Soviet space, along with Halloween, jeans, and Coca-Cola.

And although the Catholic Church removed Valentine from the list of saints in the 1980s—because almost nothing is known about him except that he was beheaded with a sword—that won’t stop true romantics.

All in all, it’s a great holiday! I think the tradition of sending Valentine’s Day cards to those you’ve had a crush on all year but were too afraid to tell is wonderful. Even if the person you like doesn’t realize you’re the one who sent it, she’ll still be happy to receive it. And you’ll be happy that she’s happy.

All in all, everyone’s happy. In this simple way, there’s a little more light in the world.

It’s just as exciting and fun for a man to receive a Valentine’s Day card. Thank goodness the feminist movement has finally secured women’s freedom of choice. They, too, sometimes dream about men—let’s say, in a romantic sense—and not just about marriage, as many still believe. So on this holiday, a handsome man might very well find a Valentine’s card with a phone number tucked under the windshield of his “Porsche.” But it’s better without it.

There’s a certain charm to this game, you know? An anonymous love note is a multi-layered pleasure. First, you get it and feel happy. Then you start wondering, “Who could it be?” You start looking closely at your friends, coworkers, and—who knows—even your boss. What if…?

And even if your secret admirer never reveals themselves, it still warms your heart to know that at least once a year, someone has had a crush on you.

Some people find February 14th annoying—that’s understandable. No one wants to be told to love someone, like they’re following orders from a boss or their country. But on the other hand, Saint Valentine is much more interesting than “Saint Tinder,” who has neither mystery nor intrigue.

That’s why I suggest we celebrate it after all. Flowers, gifts, dates, greeting cards featuring the pagan god Cupid alongside Christian doves and stuffed bears—all of this adds a splash of color to our gray, everyday lives.

Search, meet, fall in love, try new things, and may Saint Valentine be with you—whoever he really is.