I've fallen in love many times... always with you. Happy Valentine's Day

[Desiree]

I've fallen in love many times... always with you. Happy Valentine's Day

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I've fallen in love many times... always with you. Happy Valentine's Day

With... the Off Topix Community???

Happy Valentine's Day, even though its not til Feb 14th.



While we are on the subject, I think it's a cheesy pointless holiday

 

[DrLeftover]

OK, I'll add something to this one.



As to the date of St Valentine's Day ... .... it's like Christmas. There are several.



This is the entry from the Glossary on the subject.

Valentine's Day (Saint), Be My Valentine



According to the Catholic Encyclopedia there are three martyrs whose feast day is 14 February. Additionally, the various Orthodox Churches list up to seven saints with that name, two of which have feast days in July. Just as there are several dates for Christmas, everything from 6 December to various dates in January, when Christ was most likely born in the spring.



We owe what we consider as the romantic 'holiday' to Geoffrey Chaucer's poem The Parliament of Fowls:

And there was not any bird that is created through procreation that was not ready in her presence to hear her and receive her judgment. For this was Saint Valentine's day, when every bird of every kind that men can imagine comes to this place to choose his mate.

Before Chaucer (1340? - 1400) there was no such association between romance and the fourteenth of February.



Today the holiday is perpetuated by the manufacturers of various gift items who build up the expectations of women who then coerce their male friends into giving them ever more spectacular (and expensive) gifts on the day, and if they do not, there is hell to pay. Much as it is in the best interests of various outfits to ramp up the expectations of children for gifts on that day in December.



So, exactly what does be my Valentine mean? From the historical documentation on individuals by that name celebrated on that day, it must mean the person who says that wants you to either build them a church, or to die for them in a most unpleasant way. Romantic, no?



See: Romance, Love, Flirt, Courting, and related. For a similar 'holiday' see: Sweetest Day.

And since this is mentioned:

Sweetest Day of the year

Holiday invented in Cleveland, Ohio, USA in either 1921 or 1922 as a way to promote the city's candy manufacturing industry. Contrary to urban legend and incessantly forwarded email rumor, it was NOT originated by any greeting card company, although its nationwide spread has been greatly assisted by them. Today the 'holiday' is 'celebrated' on a Saturday in mid-October. The historic date was 8 October, but that has varied considerably including the addition of an entire week to commemorate those who... well, eat candy. Originally it was a day to bestow gifts on working children, orphans, and others considered disadvantaged and had nothing to do with romance a la Valentine's Day (which see). Since then, the day has been hijacked by those who seek to coerce men into buying gifts for the women in their lives on yet another occasion.

 

[Jazzy]

While we are on the subject, I think it's a cheesy pointless holiday

Bet your new sweetie thinks otherwise!