In third century Rome, a priest, Valentine, served alongside Emperor Claudius II. According to legend, Claudius had decided that in an army, single men could better serve than those who were married. Thus, marriage was outlawed for young men in order to create a stable, much stronger military base. Following this action, Valentine chose to continue marrying young couples throughout the empire in secrecy, seeing as a ban on marriage was much too unfair. After several months had passed, Claudius discovered Valentine’s secret marriages and sentenced him to death.
Centuries passed and more myths sprouted, spreading warming messages of love and heartache. Now, one is more concerned with giving candies, flowers, and cards. I, too, find myself a bit guilty. It’s easy to get all gushy when storefronts have glitter hearts in the windows, chocolate kisses and lips sit in my mother’s candy dishes at home, and, as the date approaches, more and more people wander through campus with questions of Valentine’s Day dates and gifts. As annoying as it could get, I find it too adorable to truly care. It has to be taken lightly; it’s love.
I, however, fear that I’ve been spoiled. Going down the line, most of my past valentines have been good, some better than others, but nothing too taunting. Not all of them involved, or needed to involve, a significant other. Then again, until I left home bound for college, my mother made a point of starting this day with a small treat of chocolate and a big hug of love, just in case I turned out to be the only gal without a date.
I could be a Valentine’s Day skeptic, like many, but I think I’d rather do something a bit more cliché and fall for this Hallmark holiday once and for all. I’ll scramble last minute to find, hopefully, just the right gift for my sweetie and dress up a little fancy alongside my male roommate (he’s a big Valentine’s fan himself, making reservations for his night cautiously in advance) the morning of the fourteenth foreseeing a day full of hugs and kisses. I’ll make a few charming valentine cards from my tray of printer paper and red heart cutouts and maybe even make red velvet cupcakes complete with pink and white sprinkles for my roommates. Yes, this year I’ll be that girl, big-eyed and blushing, grinning at the sight and sound of romance, fastening a little love into this Missoula Valentine’s Day.