The season of love is upon us again and in a few days, the world will celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2014. People all over the world celebrate this day by sharing gifts and greeting cards with their loved ones. This day is named after a Christian saint named Valentine, from Rome who was persecuted for conducting the wedding ceremonies of soldiers who were not allowed to marry during the ancient Roman period.
This day is also associated with Cupid- the Roman god of affection and love. He is depicted with a bow and arrow and according to some legend, it is believed that whoever is shot by his arrow gets filled with uncontrollable desire to love and to be loved.
This day acts as a perfect excuse for people in a relationship to showcase their love for each other and indulge in romance. In Islamic countries this day is opposed by people vehemently and any kind of celebration for showcasing love is banned as they believe it is a Christian festival and that expression of love in public is not decent. However, in these countries also, couples normally find a way to somehow be with each other.
The concept of Valentine’s Day existed only in the western countries of Europe and America a few decades back but now due to globalization, it has spread its wings to almost all parts of the world now. This day has become a perfect platform for greeting card companies and rose farmers to earn some extra money as the demand for their products rise sharply during this period.
This day is not declared as a holiday in any country but the buzz associated to the day remains quite strong and this year also it is expected to be the same.