So, once again its “Valentine’s Day“
Ever wonder who was this Valentine dude and was this person really all that “mushy”?
Did a little digging and it seems that the Catholic Church recognizes about three different saints named either Valentinus or Valentine. One line goes that Roman emperor Claudius II decreed single dudes made better soldiers than those with wives (hmmm Spartans had wives…). So, he outlawed marriage for the soldiers. Valentine, a priest, defied the emperor so he was put to death (no sense of humor that dude).
Another line is that Valentine was a priest who helped Christians escape Roman prisons.
Then there is one about Valentine being the first to send a “valentine” to his jailor’s daughter who visited him while he was in the slammer prior to his death.
So this priest reputation as a heroic, sympathetic but mainly romantic type is what really seemed to fire his popularity in the following centuries.
Another idea is that the holiday was created in order to Christianize a pagan holiday named Lupercalia. Originally the Pagan holiday survived the rise of Christiandom only later to be deemed un-Christian.
But enough of the historical possibilities. Ever wonder when all the commercialization began? How about during the 1800s. That’s right we’ve been getting bombarded to give people money to say what we should be able to say in the first place for over 200 years!
It has gone from simple cards to elaborate underwear. And while the commercialization has continued, music has been employed to further push the movement of momentos and gifts.
Interestingly enough it seems musicians, songwriters and others don’t seem to need a special day to create music where love is the main theme. In that groove I present to you a set of songs where you can catch the drift any time of year any time of day. The Valentine set is in the rotation and will be heard during the weekend. It features the likes of Bootsy, Atlantic Starr, Al Green, Zapp, L.T.D., Roy Ayers, Norman Conners, Floetry, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Stylistics, The Jones Girls and more singing about a range of heartfelt emotions.
Check out the set.
Stay Sane (and warm “Northerners”), Peace,
DJ