Valentine’s Day: A celebration of all things love

BEIRUT: Walking down the streets of Beirut, one finds himself surrounded by masses of red flowers, gigantic teddy bears, and cute little Valentine’s Day cards with catchy, and times cheesy, captions.

In the past, during the Roman era, a man called Valentine was in prison for marrying soldiers against Roman law - for they were to serve their 20 years single - and was madly in love with his jailer’s daughter. He’d continuously send her love letters signed off by “from your Valentine.”

Soon enough, others started sending their beloved ones love letters on this day too. This custom has in the over a thousand years since spread the world to show on this One Day our esteem for the virtues of love and friendship.

Today, around 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent on this occasion in the United States of America.

Saint Valentine also happens to be the patron saint for a large part of the Lebanese population.

Today, cards, flowers, and chocolates are this day’s significant marks.

Restaurants, cafes, and other business owners have jumped at the chance to attract more customers.

Advertisements promising a great night have been plastered across the city with various offers and events for couples, and some have even went out of their way to tailor packages for singles so they won’t feel left out on this day.

Many were glad to spend this day with friends and family, whereas others were keen on spending it with their lovers.

Mariam Fawaz insisted that on this day we should spread love to all our family and friends and not only to “our significant other love. You should spread it all around like jam and toast.”

Groups of friends have decided to spend this day together as any other day.

“We are just going to a café that has good student offers and smoking shisha,” said Dana Osman.

However, others wanted to make use of the goodies sold on Valentine’s Day.

“I’m just waiting for the day after Valentine’s when I can buy all the leftover chocolate at half price,” said Zahraa Mahmoud with a laugh.

Materialistic gifts on February the 14th aren’t enough tokens of love others stated.

Edmond Khoury has never celebrated Valentine’s Day and told Annahar that he views this day as a “marketing scam” that businesses use to make more profit.

“The other 364 days of the year matter too,” Ali Musawi stated “when showing our love, care, and attention to our partners.”

For those whose partners are overseas from them, technology has once again come to the rescue.

“I will be spending it on Skype with my husband since he’s working abroad, but at least the kids and I can have a nice dinner planned,” Liticia Moubarak told Annahar.

Others won’t have the chance to celebrate this day as they are too caught up in what some refer to as “adult life.”

For some, this day holds bad memories and they usually abstain from celebrating it.

“For the past two years, my dates have stood me up, so this year I’ve learned my lesson and I’m staying home,” a young women who wished to remain anonymous told Annahar.

Sabrina Itani, a retail sales  worker, noted that “it’s a regular working day and we’ll open for 10 am till 10 pm as always.”

As for Fatima Cheikh Jaffal, this day is a two-in-one shot. It’s also her wedding anniversary, which she likes to spend with her husband for a quite dinner.

With the romantic designation of this day, a young lover who wished to remain anonymous is planning a big proposal for his high school sweetheart.

“My girlfriend is a hopeless romantic and I don’t think there is any better way to celebrate this day other than proposing to her in the old fashioned way: on one knee as I swear my undying love to her,” he said.

At least for one day, most of the Lebanese have decided to love being in love!