“For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make”
[For this was on St Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate] ---Geoffrey Chaucer
Valentine’s Day -- February 14 -- is celebrated in Bangladesh with as much fervour as anywhere else in the world. It is a day that has been celebrated for hundreds of years, often considered the ideal occasion to show one’s partner or spouse just what they mean to you.
Romance is palpable on this day -- young boys and girls are busy seeking out the perfect gift for each other. Everybody comes out on to the streets and celebrates their feelings of affection towards their partners, and indeed the whole world.
The earliest description of February 14 as an annual celebration of love appears in the “Charter of the Court of Love” in France. The Charter is believed to have been issued by Charles VI of France at Mantes-la-Jolie in 1400, describing ostentatious festivities attended by members of the royal court.
Amidst such festivities, the attending ladies, apparently, would hear and rule on disputes from lovers.
Early medieval history portrays St Valentine as a priest who refused the decree of Roman Emperor Claudius II which decreed soldiers to remain single. Valentine preached that falling in love was magical, and that the heart was close to the divine. Infuriated, Claudius incarcerated Valentine and ordered his public execution by a single arrow to the heart.
At present, Valentine’s Day is observed as a testament of love for couples and those who seek love and romance. Offering greeting cards, flowers, chocolates, and special gifts is common practice on the day.
Though observing Valentine’s Day is still banned in a handful of countries, the underpinning message of the day crosses borders both real and unreal.
Celebrations bring us joy, happiness, and, most importantly, a chance for recreation, and behind this chance for recreation sits opportunity for good business -- with greeting card companies and restaurants always there to cater to love-struck couples.
Love and romance are as old as human beings, if not older. And, even though the form and nature of expressing love has changed, the emotion that fuels it is still more human than human.
It might sound a bit too far-fetched, but Valentine’s Day has helped innovate the service industry to the point where it is today. An entire industry thrived by piggybacking on Valentine’s Day.
It would greatly benefit Bangladesh’s tourism industry to try and seize the opportunity that Valentine’s Day gives us, by offering special services such as romantic cruises, special offers at the many beautiful tourist spots which dot our map, sight-seeing tours, and so on.
Such initiatives would make great headway in encouraging more people to travel with their dear and near ones.
