Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day

Ever wonder why we started celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14^th?  

I stole this from an Arnie Seipel, I believe an NPR editor.

From Feb. 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.

The Roman romantics "were drunk. They were naked," says Noel Lenski, a historian at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Young women would actually line up for the men to hit them, Lenski says. They believed this would make them fertile.

The brutal fete included a matchmaking lottery, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The couple would then be, um, coupled up for the duration of the festival — or longer, if the match was right.

Additionally, it seems a couple of Romans named Valentine were executed on February 14, and somehow their martyrdom became part of the celebration.

There are those who want to get rid of Columbus Day because Columbus was not nice to the inhabitants he found when he landed in the Americas.

Currently there is a bit of a brouhaha about our National Anthem because one verse which no one ever sings refers in a most politically incorrect way to slavery.

There is a movement to remove any statue that was erected to remember southern “Hero’s” who fought against the union.

These are all fair complaints about a few traditions in this country; but if we are to eliminate Columbus Day, change our National Anthem and tear down statues, then for crap sake shouldn’t we stop celebrating a holiday whose roots are in whipping women with the skins of sacrificial animals?

Besides, I hate Valentine’s Day.  It is a day where husbands are tested.

Did you remember? Did you put some thought into your present? Did your neighbor’s husband give a better more thoughtful gift you inconsiderate jerk!!!? (I’ve heard of that last one from others…not me…ever.)

If you do get a nice gift and your wife is happy, she remembers next year, and you had better match or improve on the gift or you may be accused of “Not loving me as much as you used to!” (I’ve heard of that from others…not me…ever.)

Hallmark loves Valentines Day.  Restaurants raise their prices and still are fully booked.  Florists make a bundle, candy is sold like crazy.  Everyone does well on Valentines Day but the poor schlub who forgets or under celebrates.

Except for those first few hormone-fused Valentine’s Days of early romance, Valentine’s Day is a day of fear for most men.  It is a day to survive but seldom win.

This year it will be a dinner and a movie, but I had better do something else or I will be a loser.

I ‘ve thought about beating Mrs. C with an animal skin, but she is not into ancient traditions.  I could get her flowers, that seems passé, but usually works with women. 

I do have one trick up my sleeve, I could profess my affection to Mrs. Cranky for all to see on this here blog.
Here it is:

I love you Karen!

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone.