Celebrating Valentine’s Day

February 14th needs to be accepted, as a day which offers opportunities for plain, simple enjoyment.

So, we have another flurry of heart-shaped balloons selling on every street corner, cards selling at bookstores and kiosks along with the usual collection of cute little teddy bears and flower shops adorned with the most elaborate arrangements of red roses and other flora in bouquets and baskets. Yes, it is Valentine’s Day again and like everything else, it has of course, been turned into an earning opportunity for everyone who can muscle in, from small boys selling tiny flower buds on streets to the owners of plush restaurants offering special Valentine Day’s deals. The commercialism of the occasion, like virtually every other one on the calendar is, of course, a global phenomenon and especially understandable in a country where business is low and times hard.

With the candy, the flowers and the cards we also see the usual debates, based around questions of  ‘westernisation’, morality and whatever else comes to the mind of elements in our society who seem to oppose celebration of any kind. The objections to Valentine’s Day are heard each year, repeated over and over again, with grim talk of  ‘corrupted’ youth and a decline into decadence.

But, we need to ask, why can we not simply learn to enjoy these occasions and the rare festivity they bring into our lives? After all, in a society where things are generally as grim, as is the case in ours, we need opportunities for fun, for enjoyment, for laughter. Too few of these exist. Everyone is, of course, free to mark the day as they please, or not do so, as the case may be. But certainly, it makes no sense to try and stifle fun for others by arguing Valentine’s Day not be marked at all. Today, we live in a global village and need to walk in step with the world. Even more than this, we need opportunities for plain, simple enjoyment. February 14^th needs to be accepted, then, as a day which offers this and not as anything more complicated which can damage our culture or belief. We need to learn how to have fun and seize every opportunity to do so.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.