14 Feb 2024

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life as a sign of love to humankind.

The Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh, therefore he made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man as a sign of love.

The woman made of Adam’s rib was designed to be a companion and ‘helper’ suitable for Adam because God loved him.

Heaven sent signs, and the humankind grabbed the opportunity with both hands, these divine stories shows people many kinds of love; Eros (sexual passion), Philia (deep friendship), Ludus (playful love), Agape (love for everyone), Pragma (longstanding love), Philautia (love of the self), Storge (family love), and Mania (obsessive love).

However, Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14^th century.

Although there are several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 AD by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus, according to research.

However, a snap survey of the vox pop in Serowe sparks mixed reactions of Valentine’s Day.

Father Sylvester Kaimana of Roman Catholic Church in Serowe told BOPA that Valentine’s Day was named after a Roman priest, Saint Father Valentine, who was prosecuted for officiating secret marriages against the authorities.

Father Kaimana stated that the authorities had stopped marriages because they wanted men to volunteer to go to war that was brewing at the time.

He said men refused to go to war because they wanted to be with their families.

Father Kaimana said word reached the authorities that Father Valentine was conducting secret marriages and was prosecuted on February 14 270 AD.

As a Roman church, Father Kaimana said they honoured and celebrate Valentine’s Day by organising dinner for married couples to promote marriage as Father Valentine had wanted.

Phenyo Motswedi of Newtown ward in Serowe aged 25 said he acknowledged the existence of Valentine’s Day and had always celebrated it, but had since stopped, given how much he spent on the day.

He said it had been two years since he stopped gifting his partner on Valentine’s Day and highlighted that it was a decision they reached as they had plans to walk down the aisle at 32 years and therefore would want to save the little they had for marriage.

He reminisces that the last valentine he bought his partner sneakers, flowers, a dress and went for an outing on the day whereas his partner bought him a phone pouch in return and contributed towards the outing.

“I believe that as a man I have to go out on this day to make my partner happy because she spends a lot on me, she would throw in surprises when I least expected” he said, observing that they spend a lot on this day triggering the move to pause and save for the wedding. 

“We do send each other love messages on the day just to reassure each other that we value and hold each other dearly,” he said.

For Boipelo Moleta of Botalaote also aged 25, who normally does not get anything on this day, she noted things were looking good this year and is hoping to receive something this time around.

“This time around I will not be salivating for my friends’s chocolates.

I will be sharing mine with them,” she noted.

Moleta stated that she had always been the one buying presents for her partners on special days like birthdays and valentine’s, but the favour was never returned.

To add salt to the injury, Moleta said her friends would invite her to couple outings on Valentine’s Day and she would be there idling alone. 

Out of hopelessness she said she ended up rejecting such invitations.

At Malela ward, a sexagenarian Daniel Gabotepelo believes Valentine’s Day should be planned for in advance because according to him, it is the only day that is there to celebrate love.

“You do not have to buy anything big as some claim they overspend, remember that after all it is the thought that counts” he added.

A quadragenarian Teko Tswelelo of Ramakolo condemned Valentine’s Day, saying it caused unnecessary fights between partners.

He said women tended to fantasise about things they saw on movies, he blamed Korean movies as being the source of their problems as they sell their women dreams.

Mr Tswelelo explained that the cost of living was too high nowadays and they saved the little they had for projects and could not accommodate buying delicacies on Valentine’s Day. Ends