Valentine's Day (priest, ritual, choice, pagan, spiritual)

[Sunstone]

Is there any religious and/or spiritual reason not to celebrate Valentine's Day? Is there a religious and/or spiritual reason why we should celebrate it?

What is the meaning of Valentine's Day?

[Majikthise]

I can't remember exactly but it has something to do with a priest who was imprisoned that would drop heart shaped ivy leaves out of his window,I think with notes of love written on them,to either his female lover or his children.I say 'female lover' because if he was a priest he could not have a wife.I'm totally not sure of any of this . It's late and i'm ready for bed.

[Fluffy]

Is there any religious and/or spiritual reason not to celebrate Valentine's Day?

It's unethical to celebrate something which many people are made to feel like they should have in order to fit in and feel normal and yet do not, for whatever reason, since it can then be used as an excuse to single out and target said people. I'm not one for taking a knock at holidays in general (call t3gah if you want that)... this one just really ****** me off though.

[Jayhawker Soule]

I found this interesting.

[michel]

Quote:- [It's unethical to celebrate something which many people are made to feel like they should have in order to fit in and feel normal and yet do not, for whatever reason, since it can then be used as an excuse to single out and target said people. I'm not one for taking a knock at holidays in general (call t3gah if you want that)... this one just really ****** me off though.]

O.K, but 'people are made to feel like they should..'? the only person who can make a choice is you. You don't have to 'follow the sheep' if you think they're headed in the wrong direction. Secondly I have been scolded by psychologists for using the word 'normal'; there is no 'normal'.

Perhaps if you think of things in that light, fluffy, you won't feel so resentfull?

[Fluffy]

O.K, but 'people are made to feel like they should..'? the only person who can make a choice is you. You don't have to 'follow the sheep' if you think they're headed in the wrong direction. Secondly I have been scolded by psychologists for using the word 'normal'; there is no 'normal'.

Perhaps if you think of things in that light, fluffy, you won't feel so resentfull?

Your words are very wise but are easier said than done. Peer pressure is powerful and you have to be strong to overcome that. It is much easier to follow the crowd and not make yourself stand out. Of course this can have a very negative effect on you in some areas if you feel like you should follow the crowd yet cannot for whatever reason. Saying to someone that they shouldn't listen to peer pressure is a little bit like telling someone who got raped that they shouldn't have gone out of the house. What I'm trying to say is that this attitude accepts the problem and works around it rather than solves it and so the problem does not go away.

I agree that there is no "normal". There are certain things which you are pressured into as a kid, however. One of them is to have a girlfriend/boyfriend etc. or you are ridiculed. Sure I've been through that and I resent it but it doesnt bother me now. My reaction is not to say that everyone else should have to go through that and work it out all on their own. The problem should be solved not survived.

[Master Vigil]

Valentines Day is just another revival and redone version of an old Roman Pagan holiday called Lupercalia. It was seen as the "Fertility" celebration.

[Circle_One]

Originally Posted by michel

O.K, but 'people are made to feel like they should..'? the only person who can make a choice is you. You don't have to 'follow the sheep' if you think they're headed in the wrong direction. Secondly I have been scolded by psychologists for using the word 'normal'; there is no 'normal'.

I second this. I have had a Valentine's Day ritual with my best friend for the last 13 years. We always spend Valentine's Day together, go to dinner, a movie and then the bar. Even if we have boyfriends, we still leave them at home for that particular night and go out together. I suppose it's kind of an anti-valentine's day ritual though, showing that we don't need boyfriends, or whatever to have fun and celebrate this holiday. In my opinion, Valentine's day is about spending the day with the one you love, or that "special someone", well I love Tara (my bestfriend) and she is more special to me than any guy.