Meanderings/A Cyber Bouquet for Valentine’s

Valentine’s Day is most fun when you are a child, or are happily married.  
 
Children get 24 identical cards and and excuse to eat chocolates and heart shaped candies with words on them; and married women—at least ones I know---can expect one or two dozen red roses.  
 
When I was a kid everyone in my class traded cards with everyone else.  Always, every year, my Dad would send two dozen roses to my Mom, and it was no secret in our family how much they loved each other.  

But for everyone else, this particular holiday can impose a certain awkwardness.  
 
Indeed, suppose you have been dating someone for only one or two months.  Should he feel obliged to further commit to the relationship by marking Valentine’s Day? Or would he be making an inevitable decision in the other direction were he to ignore it?  Here’s a clue guys: whether it’s roses, jewelry, wine, or all of the above, go for it.

After all, what woman can say that she doesn’t want a piece of the 14 billion dollar action that constitutes the annual Valentine’s industry to remind her that she is desired and desireable?  Talk about economic stimulus.  
 
Here’s a sample: Nieman Marcus is offering a pave silver heart necklace for a mere $830; not to be outdone, Tiffany has a stainless steel bracelet, with heart, for a relatively cheap $250.  Steel?!  Godiva Chocolatier is peddling a box of its finest for $90 in a pink heart-shaped box.  Last, but not least, are the traditional red roses; and at this time of year, expect to pay a price of at least $40 in any major city.  Readers will realize, of course, that roses are suddenly double the price during the month of February.   

If any of this seems excessive, remember that Valentine’s day has its precursor in an ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia.  In the fifth century, a Catholic priest began to perform Chrisitan weddings to couples in secret, as the pagan emporer had banned all marriages.  
 
When Father Valentine’s underground activities were revealed to the emperor, he sentenced Father Valentine to death. Notes that were passed to him in prison to keep up his morale were expressions of love which, of course, came to be known as Valentines.  Later when the church could function in the open, it dedicated February 14th as St. Valentine’s feast day, and history was made.

With 14 billion dollars of gifts and cards to distribute, Cupid will be busy this year.  Readers may want to know that Cupid is not in fact a cherub; he is a “putto,” an angelic creature traditional to Italian art in the Rennaissance era, and which are far cuter than cherubim.  Putti are associated with romantic love in Italian painting.

So to our readers, all the editors at Local Kicks extend this cyber-bouquet, and hope you continue to enjoy us as we meander about Alexandria bringing you the latest and hottest in news, entertainment, fashion, wine, and just about anything.
 
XOXO from us all.