Valentine's Day: What’s It All About?

Legend has it that St. Valentine, a Christian priest during the Roman Empire, was martyred for defying Emperor Claudius II's ban on marriage for young soldiers. Despite the decree, Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret. When his actions were discovered, he was arrested and ultimately executed for his defiance of the imperial decree. Thus, Valentine's Day was born as a day to commemorate this martyred saint. Obviously, this is not the meaning of the day now. Valentine’s Day has evolved into something a whole lot different! While it is obvious that Valentine’s Day is the day of love, is it mostly meant to celebrate significant others? Or is it more of a universal love, appreciating all of those in your life? I went around campus and asked some undergraduate students what Valentine’s Day meant to them:

Savannah Tyler (junior, speech pathology)

I have always loved Valentine's Day because not only is it a day full of sweets but also a special opportunity to show people that you love them! The whole reason I find significance in this overly marketed day is because I can take the time to give handmade and heartfelt valentines to each person I love and sometimes, if I’m feeling ambitious, a homemade sweet treat as well!

Audrey Lim (freshman, sociology)

Valentine’s Day is alright I guess. I think it’s a fun holiday. In elementary school, everyone would give candy and celebrate. I don’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day though. I don’t care about it too much.

Esfir Zavrichko (senior, accounting)

I think Valentine's Day is a special day where two people that have romantic love for each other get a special chance to express their love to each other. It could be a special date, a special meal, a sunset walk, or another activity that means something for them. Valentine's Day is a celebration of romantic love that God created between man and a woman! Valentine's Day is also a great reminder of the deep love of God towards us as well!

Gabriel Rojas (sophomore, international business)

I would say Valentine’s Day is nice. It’s a day where you get to express your love for friends, not only necessarily romantic partners. I would say it is significant for others, but for me, it’s another day. I usually don’t realize it’s Valentine’s until the day of due to my studies. I believe Valentine’s is a good day to express gratitude for friends and loved ones. Even though historically it is made to commemorate Saint Valentine, I think this is the modern connotation we have given it.

Jacob Elanko (sophomore, marketing)

I don’t care for Valentine’s Day, but the sentiment of emphasizing love is very nice. I don’t think there is any huge significance of Valentine’s Day, since in my opinion, love, especially in a romantic context, should be celebrated constantly. [To celebrate] I might buy some chocolates and candies from the dollar store.

Joanna Cardenas (sophomore, social work)

I do! I love an excuse to express my love to others and being made to feel special by others. I think everyone needs a reminder of how special they are to someone. I like how Valentine’s Day is starting to include friendships as well as romantic relationships. It’s important to take a look around for a second and reflect on the positive experiences and feelings your special people bring into your life and take the vulnerable step of expressing that to them. I think Valentine's Day is about reflection. I think frequently looking at who and what makes you happy and why can help a hard day go easier. More importantly, it strengthens the relationship by letting that other person know that you appreciate the good they bring into your life.

Jakob Kwon (senior, accounting and business finance)

I like Valentine’s Day. It is a time to show love, not just love for your significant other, but a time to love friends and family. As an event that happens every year, I find significance in Valentine’s Day. I know that Valentine’s Day has its controversy, with the occasional sadness of loneliness, but I feel like people focus on the negative aspects. Valentine’s Day is to show dedication, and to be earnest to those you deeply care about. I feel like this gets overshadowed only by romance rather than caring, but overall, Valentine’s Day is significant to me. I believe that Valentine’s Day is a time when you, as an individual, go out of your way to show others how much you love them. Make them feel special so they know that you care about them. Despite the feelings people have towards Valentine’s Day, it is important to remember that every day we should treat each other with kindness and appreciation. Surprising your loved ones with a random act of kindness, or even to someone you may not even know! Valentine's Day is a reminder that we should cherish and express love not just on one designated day, but consistently throughout the year.

Jaelah Simons (junior, music)

Yes, I do like Valentine's Day. I’ve never been someone who goes all out for it, and most times I would forget except for the constant reminder of red and pink in the grocery stores; however, I appreciate what the day is about and think there are many ways to make the day special for those you love. I believe Valentine’s day is only significant if it reflects the actions you show to people year-round. If you don’t take time to show people you love and care about them during the year, then what is the purpose of a single day? We celebrate Thanksgiving on one day, but that doesn’t mean we are not thankful to God during the rest of the year. I think it’s the same concept. Our words and actions should display genuine love and appreciation to people around us daily, but having a special day to celebrate helps us pause from our busy lives and remember the people that God has blessed us with. 

Sometimes I think we also get too caught up with what we don’t have – we make jokes, but too often the day is portrayed as a time of mourning for those who are single, leaving many people unsatisfied and longing for the future. Maybe instead, Valentine’s Day can be a time where we appreciate the relationships that we have now and challenge ourselves to reach out beyond our comfort zones – to show love to the people we normally wouldn't… I think it's a day for us to celebrate the values that we hold dear: love for our families, friends, and people around us. I think it's also a day to reach out to those around us, get to know them better, and to find creative little ways to make them feel loved. Sometimes, we don't even need to buy someone a gift; our presence, our prayers, or a simple hug can be just the thing they need to feel appreciated at that moment.

While the history of Valentine’s Day may not be known to all, the day seems to hold different levels of significance to those at Andrews, whether it be gifting heart-shaped candy, a random act of kindness, or simply reaching out to someone you love. Valentine’s Day may hold cherished memories for many and offers the wonderful opportunity to appreciate those around you. It’s important to remember to show love to everyone every day of the month, not just Valentine’s Day. This day, overall, serves as a gentle reminder that kindness and love should be extended to one another.