2.22.2011

2.14.2011

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day
When reading about people’s opinions of Valentine’s Day, I came across comments like don’t have any expectations so you won’t be disappointed, and one of the top tweets is girls get your expectations high and guys get your apologies ready.  Valentine’s Day is often over-rated, which is probably due to all the ad campaigns pushing their products.  It should be a day about showing one’s genuine affection and thoughtfulness that doesn’t necessarily cost a lot of money nor should it be expressed only on this day.  

Valentine’s Day is full of symbolism whose origins date way back in history.  The most popular symbol is the heart, which was once believed to be the center of every emotion.  Doves are also a popular symbol because these birds mate for life and was once thought to find their mates in February.  Roses are a common flower given on Valentine’s Day, and it was the sacred flower to Venus, the Goddess of Love.

Did you know the chubby winged cherub, Cupid, was a Roman god and son of Venus?  As one version of the myth goes, Venus was jealous of a mortal princess named, Psyche because people adored her more than Venus.  Venus ordered Cupid to punish her, but he fell deeply in love with her.  His mother proceeded to trick Psyche to get rid of her.  After a series of mistakes, Psyche fell into a deep sleep after looking into a forbidden box.  Because Cupid's love for her was so strong, he was able to break the sleeping spell, and he used his bow and arrow to pierce her heart to awaken her.  Thus, his bow and arrow has become symbolic in making people fall in love.  



Source of items above can be found here.