Validity of Valentine’s Day | Sunday Observer

Validity of Valentine’s Day

13 February, 2022

The month of February is known as the month of romance. February has long been celebrated for St. Valentine’s Day. The day falls on February 14. Lovers around the world exchange candy, flowers, chocolates and gifts, on this day. Today, Valentine’s Day has become a craze among the youth but many of them don’t know what exactly Valentine’s Day stands for. This religious day has transformed into something else entirely.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Darshana Mapa Pathiranage, a senior lecturer of the Department of Mass Communication at University of Kelaniya and Deputy Director of the National E-learning Resource Center explained to us what Valentine’s Day stands for and views about celebrations today.

Q: What is Valentine’s Day?



Darshana Mapa Pathiranage

A: February 14 is a special day for people all over the world. It is introduced as Valentine’s Day or the lover’s day. Based on this, various programs are implemented. Targeting Valentine’s Day, many media channels and commercial entities quickly get ready for various activities. They try to attract youngsters to media channels and various businesses and work to increase their profits. It is a shame to do so. It was with great devotion that St. Valentine helped to gather loved ones and fulfill their innocent wishes.

Without knowing who Valentine was, businessmen make fun of innocent lovers by using his name. So, it is a matter of urgency that action needs to be taken to make the public aware of St. Valentine.

Q: What is the history surrounding St. Valentine?

A: It is well known that there was a period of Christian persecution in Rome when Emperor Claudius, the third-century Roman emperor, enacted an unjust law forbidding Roman soldiers from marrying because he believed that unmarried soldiers were more physically fit and active. St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop of Rome at the time, was a devout official who worked secretly against this injustice. He was beheaded on February 14, 270 A.D. He disregarded the king’s order and arranged for Roman soldiers to marry. The heroism and fame of the priest spread throughout Rome.

With this incident, he became known as the “Saint of Lovers”. Since then, every 14th of February he was celebrated. This is the immediate reason he was revered as the Saint of Lovers, and there were also various folktales about him as the Saint of Lovers.

One of them was about a prisoner who had been sentenced to death while Valentine was in prison. He had wanted to write a letter to his girlfriend. Valentine helped him write a beautiful letter. This girl was none other than the daughter of the torturer who beheaded him. The address read “From your Valentine.” It is a word still used by lovers today.

Every year, symbolising the dawn of spring, the pagan festival named Lupercalia was held, and, according to legend, all young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with their chosen women. These matches often end in marriage.

Later, the Catholic Church decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a Christian festival. Accordingly, in 496, Pope Gelasius banned the celebration of Lupercalia, declaring February 14 to be Valentine’s Day instead.

Q: What are your views on how the world celebrates Valentine’s Day?

A: Today, with the expansion of event management, Valentine’s Day has become more commercialised. The media and businesses have the opportunity to fulfill their needs and make a profit. People around the world can be seen celebrating Valentine’s Day by giving out roses and greeting cards, as well as chocolates and special gifts to their loved ones. But at the same time, others celebrate Valentine’s Day as Lupercalia, by spending their nights in nightclubs. Social media plays the key role in coordinating this.

In the Western world, people are busy most of the time. They get vacations depending on seasons. They have less time to spend with their parents and children. They are always competing for something. That’s why they set aside days for different things and celebrate them.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in a way that is unique to each culture. They combine certain elements of their culture and collect the best things they could find for their loved ones. For example, people in the Wales give wooden love spoons to their lovers on this day.

They decorate spoons with paint and carvings. They consider this a symbol of love. Many countries have declared this day as a holiday. People in other countries use Valentine’s Day to give gifts to their loved ones and express their love, as Sri Lankans do for Sinhala and Hindu New Year. The pig is a cultural symbol in Germany. That is why the Germans are seen giving, receiving, and donating pork-shaped food. Things related to Japanese culture are cherry blossoms (Sakura) and chocolate. So, they exchange those in particular. People celebrate this day in a way that suits their culture.

But now the situation has changed. The media and the market decide what lovers should buy for their partners and what kind of events they want to attend.

Q: What are your views on Sri Lankan celebrations of Valentine’s Day?

A: In Sri Lanka, we have recently seen that it is the media that gives lovers the opportunity to get involved in certain things. In those cases, trademarks are also used. Traders are involved. They give gifts to lovers involving them in their programs, and through that, they promote their business.

We can also see television dramas, movies, and programs trying to direct young people into things not suitable with our culture. It could be the way young people go to rooms together, the way they behave there, and the way they use products under different brands. This can be seen as a joint process between the media and the market. This is seen especially in tele dramas, dubbed and telecast in our country.

In Sri Lanka, we often get holidays. So, we do not need a separate day to show love. If we are to celebrate Valentine’s Day, there are many lovers in our history to be commended. Indian culture is close to our country. In that sense, Rama-Sita, and Radha-Krishna, of India as well as Saliya-Ashokamala, and Daskon-Pramila in Sri Lanka are couples who we really have to talk about. Sri Lankan culture is often associated with Buddhism. Speaking of Buddhist history, love should last a lifetime. According to the Buddhist concept, it is something that comes from Sasara. If so, there is an eternal love that will not be lost. Consider the Siddhartha and Yashodhara love. In a different life, a flower girl had wished to become partner to Sumedha Thapasa, who desired to become a Buddha at the foot of the Deepankara Buddha.

She wished to become the partner to this great man until he became a Buddha. She passed the Chandakinnara, Kusa Paba, Wessanthara Bhavas and so on. In the name of love, Yashodhara, who stayed beside Siddhartha from Bhava to Bhava, became the consort of Siddhartha on a full moon day of Esala, and Yashodhara ended Sansara in the name of love. So, in Sri Lanka, we do not need a special day called “Lovers’ Day.” But, it’s not a problem at all for two people to celebrate their own special day, like their anniversary.

Today, Valentine’s Day in Sri Lanka is in a bad situation. February 14 is highlighted by the media and social networking sites. Social networking sites organise a variety of events to gather lovers. The past few years have seen a variety of issues from those who have joined. This day was celebrated with illegal substances. And some girls offer their virginity to their lover on this day. The youth of the country are falling prey to such delusions.

Even children under the age of 18 are excited to celebrate February 14. Broadcast media, in particular, is responsible for this. Teledramas show school lovers, and schoolchildren are tempted to do things not suitable for their age. Mainstream and social media are responsible for these things. Schoolchildren are the ones who have the most expectations for this day. Children express their views on Whatsapp with friends, waiting for that day to come.

South Asian countries have a lot of holidays, to be with loved ones, have dinner together, have conversations, and go on trips. People of our country have plenty of time to spend time with them. Therefore, we do not need a separate day to express our love.

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Bimshani Jasin Arachchi, Deputy Inspector General of Police, expressed her views about children and Valentine’s Day celebrations.


Bimshani Jasin Arachchi, Deputy Inspector General of Police

“All citizens under the age of 18 are considered children. Orphaned children need a guardian for their growth, safety, education, and well-being. It is the responsibility of adults to mould our children as good citizens. The example should be provided by adults and parents. The country in which we live is an iconic land only if it is created by citizens with virtues and wisdom. Therefore, guardians for children under 18 should show good parenting skills. Regular follow-up care must be taken regarding orphaned children. Parents have to dedicate time for their children. When children are guided on the right path, they go towards the goal with the right vision. Parents should control their access to social media.

Valentine’s Day is about pushing young people unnecessarily. These are false precedents that promote unnecessary publicity. I see these things as highlighting commercial purposes. There is much that parents, adults, and the silent society can do to weaken their efforts to mislead their children by exposing such deceptions. We need to create a society of mutual respect and trust, with love, kindness, and human dignity.

There are many legal provisions to protect children. Legal insurance for children has been introduced in the Penal Code in Sri Lankan domestic law. From time to time, new laws are introduced, interpretations are expanded, and penalties are increased to protect child victims, especially girls. Also, law enforcement agencies, child protection agencies, the Sri Lanka Police, and the Children and Women’s Bureau are proactive in enforcing the law. Group officers are now trained in the Children and Women’s Bureau on complaints with their privacy protected and to look at these issues with empathy. So, do not hesitate to complain about any of your problems. Protecting confidentiality, our officers are constantly on the lookout for appropriate treatment, legal action, and counseling.

Therefore, our real responsibility is to protect children from unwanted external influences. Do not fall prey to a day like Valentine’s Day and lose your future and parents’ expectations.

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