who ever hates valitines day

[MerakSpielman]

What I dislike about Valentine's Day is that you're expected to go out and spend money. I hate commercialism. I don't like it when the traditions of a holiday all center on going and buying something. Maybe I wanna squander my money on foot and rent? Did they ever think of that before they started this social expectation of spending money on certain days?

And while I'm at it, could somebody please tell me what the heck is up with jewelry? I know that a jeweled necklace is pretty, but so is a $15 knock-off at Wal-Mart. Why do women have such a strong emotional reaction to being given expensive jewelry?

(that is, except for my wife, who, if the subject is broached, will launch into a tirade about jewels being the currency of criminals/terrorists/black markets and who has threatened very bad things if I ever even think of wasting that much money on something so useless. Believe me, if there ever was a woman who meant it when she said, "don't get me anything for my birthday," it's her. Found that out the hard way.)

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

Believe me, if there ever was a woman who meant it when she said, "don't get me anything for my birthday," it's her. Found that out the hard way.)

I have one of those. Our 20th anniversary is this July. However, I do find this does not apply to dollar-store boxes of chocolate covered cherries (with receipt to prove where I bought it) or candelight massages with warm baby oil (candles and oil must also come from said Dollar Store).

 

[MerakSpielman]

...candelight massages with warm baby oil (candles and oil must also come from said Dollar Store).

You know, that's not a bad idea. I have tons of candles, and I think we have some baby oil somewhere... I think I'll surprise her. Thanks!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

The best answer? Maybe something along the line of:

"You know, it's just a cloth. If anything, it hides part of your beauty. I prefer you naked, darling."

Listen to the Frenchman.

As for the holiday in question, IIRC, it's after a Christian Martyr, Valentin (of course) who... wait... There's somthing about an olive tree I think... He was supposed to go meet his girlfriend and he got killed along the way... Then the tree bloomed on his tomb, and every year after that... Argh where's my memory when I need it (of course there's Google to palliate for that).

One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old, rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services. At this time Emperor Claudius was heavily recruiting men to serve as soldiers for his wars without much success. The men preferred not to leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands. Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages could be performed and all engagements were cancelled.

So I must have been remembering something else.

AR

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

You know, that's not a bad idea. I have tons of candles, and I think we have some baby oil somewhere... I think I'll surprise her. Thanks!

Its pure magic... you come out looking like a romantic hero, and you get to rub baby oil on a hot naked chick... Win/Win.

 

[chaos-princess]

the stuff you lot chat about. but to be honest what ever floats your boat

 

[d4]

Well, speaking of flowers, may I make a small request to the ladies out there:

Never tell someone you think might be interested in you anything like, "I've always just wished a man would give me flowers on his own, without me having to ask for them."

speaking of giving flowers, there can be much better things to give a woman than dying plant material.

i remember one old girlfriend, on one of our first dates i gave her a flower and a rock.

talked to her again not too long ago, 12 years later. of course the flower is long dead and neither one of us can even remember what color it was, but she still has that rock!

(of course, there was a reason why she didn't think the rock was all that weird. one of our favorite bands is Crowded House, and they have a song with a line "...I bring you rocks and flowers..." so it seemed appropriate at the time.)

 

[chaos-princess]

well that was definatly intresting

 

[Darkness]

What I dislike about Valentine's Day is that you're expected to go out and spend money. I hate commercialism. I don't like it when the traditions of a holiday all center on going and buying something. Maybe I wanna squander my money on foot and rent? Did they ever think of that before they started this social expectation of spending money on certain days?

I think some traditions of giving gifts on holidays predate the common use of money among 'common folk'. Back then, you just made something yourself. Or gave a family heirloom. Or stuff.
Today's different, of course, and so are our gift-giving habits.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old, rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services. At this time Emperor Claudius was heavily recruiting men to serve as soldiers for his wars without much success. The men preferred not to leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands. Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages could be performed and all engagements were cancelled.

I'm pretty sure this is a myth. They dig up the old "guy who married people after the emperor banned marriage" chestnut every year. Only the names change. I've heard about this as an act of Claudius, Nero, Caligula, various non-Roman rulers, etc, and as far as I know, there's nothing in the historical record to indicate such a ban ever took place (at least, not in Rome).

However, Valentine's Day coincides with the ancient pagan festival of Lupercallia, a time of debauchery, vice and, well, gross sexism. Being the kind of thing Romans were real keen on, this got co-opted, along with several other pagan holidays, into various Christian holidays that usually involved far less women-whipping.

Yeah. Whole thing kinda went downhill after that, wouldn't you say?