Valentine's Day Celebration - The real thing about Valentine's Day

Topics:

• The real thing about Valentine's Day
• 6 weird things men do before Valentine
• 7 Ways To Make Your Woman Feel Special On Valentine's Day
• Why condoms are 'bad' for you on Valentine's Day

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The real thing about Valentine's Day
Written by Niran Adedokun - Punch, Nigeria.
Twitter:@niranadedokun.

Niran Adedokun

Next Sunday is February 14. That day in which the world celebrates the memory of St Valentine, that day in which Nigerians show the world their bent to accept foreign ideas without reservation and surpass the initiator of such ideas in the execution of same. You have to take your hat off to Nigerians when commemoration allows for frolicking.

That is why on every Valentine's Day, something happens that makes the previous year's celebration insignificant. Things seem a bit drab this year though, apparently because of the downturn in the economy. Corporate entities, hurting from the sting of a near prostrate economy have bigger fish to fry this season than feed the indulgences of youths and delinquent adults who have twisted the import of an otherwise sombre event in the celebration of true affection for humanity.

So, this is an unusual year. At least from what I have witnessed of St Valentines days in the past one decade. By now, the air would have been filled with promotions of programmes targeted at ensuring that men and women have their fill of revelries and are modestly safe at savouring their indulgences.

For instance, a couple of years back, a federal university collaborated with one of the biggest banks in the country to "reduce" the incidence of HIV infections during that year's St Valentine's Day celebration. They planned an event and made condoms available to students of the institution in abundance such that they could sow their wild oats without the fear of any negative harvests.

That was a totally new one. I could not resist taking a quick reverie back to my days in the university; I came back with no memory of any elaborate celebration of St Valentine's Day. But things changed progressively. Youths began to get more daring and adventurous towards St Valentine's Day, they organised activities and gained sponsorships from corporates. To catch the attention of the youth, more and more brands struggle to key in to the Valentine opportunity year in, year out. This is a season that you cannot but notice.

Then of course married people began to join the train. Many a man would have more than a usual dose of "love" on this day, they would treat young, sophisticated girls outside of their homes to some niceties after which those with conscience would go back home and reward the wife with the remnants. Some would get back home and join the wife in condemning those who spend so much time, energy and money on St Valentine's, pretending like nothing happened earlier on in the day. Some will not even come home at all! It is a day in which people become so many things, some throw morality to the winds; some become momentary hypocrites while some really celebrate love.

I am in envy of couples who go all the way on this day. I have friends who take romantic trips to exotic destinations all over the world, just to be away from the heartbreak that our country has become lately. I know people who make elaborate plans within the country. I no longer have the grace to invest so much energy, resources and time on every February 14. Not after the experience I once had when I tried to follow the fad.

After returning from work the year after I got married, my wife and I thought we should go have dinner somewhere not too far from us in celebration of the day. My God! We got the shock of our lives. Vehicular and human traffic to the destination we chose was incredible. We got there at last, only to be turned back because we made no prior bookings

It was the same situation in another venue nearby. That evening ended up being a very tortuous one for us as we encountered the same horrible traffic on our way home. We got back home from a journey of no accomplishment several hours after we set out totally exasperated. Then, my wife and I reached an accord to wit: save ourselves from this stress in subsequent years and make every waking day Valentine- a celebration of love, in our home.

We also agreed not to wait until February 14 to show love to other people. Anyone who came our way would get a taste of the Almighty's goodness to us in whatever bit we could afford. We still reckon that the stress and inconvenience that attend the celebration of Valentine's Day summarily defies the import of the day.

But how many people even bother to find out how the day came about? We are only just taken away by the opportunity to merry and in some instances, engage in debauchery, all of which are antithetical to the essence of the man on whose account the day was set aside, a man whose story I will presently share in bit.

Valentine's Day is in memory of a Priest who worked against the decision of the Roman Empire to outlaw marriages among soldiers. This was because Emperor Claudius II, who was fighting many wars, wanted a strong army, but a lot of his men did not want to be soldiers.

The Emperor assumed that men refused to join his raids and conquests because they wanted to stay at home to be with their wives and children so he decided to cancel and outlaw all marriages! He reasoned that if men were stopped from getting married, there would be neither woman nor child to distract them from the all-important duty of fighting for the state.

But this Priest felt it was important that men got married. He thought that this would save them from the temptation of living with women without being legally married, a sinful act by his faith. So, he decided to do what he thought was right. He would gather people who were interested in getting married in a secret place, far away from prying soldiers and join them in matrimony. For a while, it was a jolly good ride for him and his accomplices but the day of reckoning came fast. He was soon caught in the act! When Roman soldiers discovered his illegal activities, he was arrested and brought before Emperor Claudius.

The priest made a good impression on the Emperor who thought he was a well-spoken and wise young man. Rather than harm the priest, the big man wanted him to have a rethink about his faith. He encouraged him to stop being a Christian and become a loyal Roman citizen, who would conform to the laws of the land.

But the priest swore that he would never deny his belief refusing all entreaties from the Emperor. He even dared to sell his Christian faith to the almighty Emperor!

The audacity infuriated Claudius and he ordered that the priest be sent to prison until he could be executed. Some accounts claim that while he was in prison, the priest performed a miracle by healing Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer, Asterius. The jailer's daughter and his 44-member household were said to have been converted and baptised into Christianity. Before his execution, the priest was also said to have written letters to his close friends coveting their prayers and signing these letter by writing "Remember your Valentine." This good priest was believed to have been executed on the 14th or the 24th of February in the year 269 A.D or 270. A.D. Some two centuries later, around 498 A.D, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as a church sanctioned holiday in honour of a man who was martyred for the protection of the sanctity of holy matrimony. It is an irony that this is the same institution that we go the extra effort to put in jeopardy while commemorating the priest's memory!

So what to do on Valentine's Day?

Spare a thought for someone; find time to pray that we will continue to understand the importance of happy, peaceful family units to the overall welfare of our society and our world; make those with whom God has blessed you happy and say a prayer that every soul in need finds someone to love. That, is the real spirit of lovers' day, it is the thing that our world gravely needs.

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6 weird things men do before Valentine
By Ogunfowoke Adeniyi - Nigeria

February is the month of Love! Everyone should be excited and look forward to making it a special and unforgettable day for their spouses. However, for some people, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. These individuals evolve different tactics to ensure that they avoid taking their spouse shopping or giving them aluxurious treat at a five-star hotel in Lagos.
If you are a lady with your heart setting on celebrating Valentine's Day but aren't sure whether yourman is cut out for it, Jovago shines the light on some signs to watch out for.

Finds fault in everything you do
He compliments your cooking, tells you how beautiful you are, allows you to pass the night at the weekend and doesn't mind where you keep your things. If however, he abruptly turns the corner and make you feel like a stranger, your sixth sense should tell you that he wants to get rid of you before that special day.

Stops calling you
On a daily basis, he could call you as many times as possible. He doesn't miss that opportunity to blow you a good night kiss. But, a few days to Val, you wait forever for the kiss but it never comes. In the morning, you call him but he struggles to pick or he laments about you interrupting his sleep and unexpectedly ends the call. Honey, your valentine treat is hanging in the balance.

Does not give you money anymore
Whenever you are 'broke', you can confidently put a call through to him and within a few hours, you receive an alert. He is very reliable that you have converted him into your 'ATM'. This does not deny the fact that you love him, it just means he takes care of you. But, if you send him a message that you need money this love month, and get no alert, you should be worried. Yes, he may not have it at that moment but if it becomes a regular phenomenon, it's a sign.


Busy Busy busy
According to relationship experts, no one is too busy to find time for people they care about. If he apparently gives you excuses for not doing something he promised because he is busy, it may be an underlying tactic to avoid valentine's day expenses.


Valentine is a myth
Some people genuinely do not believe in valentine. True. But there are others who claim that they do not celebrate Vals day, not because they do not recognize the significance but due to the financial burden it will bestow on them. Their mantra throughout February will be 'I hate valentine or I don't believe in valentine'. If you do not, at least, your woman does and if you wantto keep her after valentine, give her something special. As a lady, make this point clear before he runs!

I need a break
If since you both started dating, he was the type who looked forward to shopping and eating out with you, but as valentine approaches, he suddenly gets bored or depressed when you are around and doesn't seem interested in anything...do not mind him, stick around and get your due! .If he says, "Sweetheart, I need a break", not to worry, you can give him the break after February 14th!
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7 Ways To Make Your Woman Feel Special On Valentine's Day
~TheGuardian.

With yet another special day for commercialism coming up fast, a bunch of you must be biting your nails. I can imagine how difficult it must be to be having to figure out what to get that special woman in your life on this special day. Needless to say, Valentine's Day is commonly used to show off whose partner can outdo the others in the gifting department and you don't want to be found lacking.

I feel your pain, I really do. This is why I'm going to show you a few ways you can make her super happy this year and avoid falling into traps you may never see coming.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE HER HAPPY ON VALENTINE'S DAY:

1. Avoid restaurants and Cook Her Dinner Instead

One of the awesome things about living in Nigeria is we don't have to deal with the stress of restaurant reservations. You can walk right into a restaurant and be seated in no time and with very little hassle. But why would you want to place the outcome of your night in the hands of total strangers? What if your waiter is moody and upsets your date? What if the food is scraps? Is that a chance you're willing to take? I hope not. I suggest cooking her a lovely dinner at home instead. "But I can't cook!", you say? Even more romantic; added to the intimacy of being alone at home. The fact that you make the effort will make her gush and swoon. You should probably have some backup food ordered if you really can't cook, though.

2. Definitely don't ignore it.

So I've been hearing whispers. People, it would seem, are intentionally planning to boycott Valentine 's Day. Let me just say that while what you do with your relationship is your business, this is not an advisable move unless you have discussed it with bae and she is willing to go along with it. You probably think it's cool to be non-conformist and Valentine 's Day is overrated. Maybe you even think love shouldn't only be celebrated on the 14^th of February, and you may be right. However, the fact remains that if you are in a relationship, your partner, and everyone in your lives, expects you to not only recognize this day but to make it special as well.

3. If you can, always personalize the gift.

Do you know what makes a personalized gift stand out? It says to your woman that you took the time to have something made especially for her. If that isn't a fool proof way to make her happy on Valentine 's Day, I don't know what is. Chocolates and flowers are awesome, and perfume is great. But while she's appreciating them she will also be aware that there are a couple hundred girls out there also holding the exact same gift.

4. Speaking of flowers

Please, please, and please do NOT deliver flowers as THE gift. She may be mad about flowers. They may very well be a gorgeous bunch of roses in the entire planet. But flowers alone are not enough as a gift. Add them to another gift as a supplement for a sweeter touch instead. The same applies for chocolates.

5. Have you considered an act of service?

If you still can't figure out what to get her for Valentine 's Day, it's time to get practical. Do you know of a particular problem she has been struggling with? Is she saving up for something? Has she been under a lot of pressure lately? Ease some of the burdens your other half may be enduring this valentine's. What greater gesture of love than showing the person you care for that you really are partners and you are willing to help out when push comes to shove? Let her have a day off and just pamper her silly. Rub her feet, give her breakfast in bed, let her sleep in, and cuddle her.

6. Some people are really into surprises

I'm not suggesting you make her believe you're not doing anything special on that day. She should be very aware that you have no intentions of ignoring that day. The key here is to downplay whatever your plans are for the day so that she is pleasantly surprised when it rolls around and is a lot more extra. This not only makes her happy on Valentine's Day but helps you avoid a potential disappointment. Because if you overpromise and under-deliver, things can go a lot differently.

7. You shouldn't leave greeting cards in charge of your emotions

Greeting cards are cool, but they also bring the problem of being generic. If you must get her a card, then get one that's blank on the inside so you can write something from your heart. It doesn't have to be a poem or something really flowery. If you sit down with a pen and write something simple and straightforward that truly expresses how you feel about her, she will be extremely more appreciative of that card. So much so, that it may not end up in the trash less than a week later.
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Why condoms are 'bad' for you on Valentine's Day
Written by Biodun Ogungbo - Nigeria.

Biodun Ogungbo -Punch, Nigeria

The St. Valentine's Day will be celebrated globally on Sunday, February 14. The event began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. It is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church.

The event, also known as the Feast of St Valentine, is a celebration of love observed in many countries around the world. Initially, it was associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer when the tradition of courtly love flourished in the middle ages.

In the 18th century England, St. Valentine's Day evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards (known as 'Valentines').

Anyway, that's all good and well. Let us talk about romance, love, sex and why wearing a condom can be extremely bad for you on that day.

I was at the doctor's clinic the other day with my farting problem. I said to him, "I fart all the time! But the good part is that 'they' are silent and they don't smell. So, nobody knows. Ever since I stepped into your clinic, I have farted about 20 times and nobody noticed." He gave me some medicine and told me to come after a week.

A week later, I went fuming to his office and said, "What kind of medicine was that? Now my farts stink like hell! The good thing is that they are still silent. So, nobody knows I did it."

Now, the doctor calmly replied, "Okay, so your nose infection is cleared. Next, I will give you medicine for your ears."

Prevention of infection

For those who have ears, please listen carefully. Condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections. You have to wear it before sexual intercourse and be strict about not allowing bodily fluid from your partner anywhere near your sex organ. It prevents infections like gonorrhoea, herpes, herpatitis B and C, syphilis and, of course, HIV.

The thing about not using protection is that you risk catching an infection. You risk passing an infection to your partner. Don't forget that our bodies are vastly different and a germ that may be local and friendly to you (not giving you any symptoms or problems) may be dangerous to your partner. So, using a condom protects you and your partner.

If you don't want to protect yourself, then you are playing the game, 'Passemon'. The sexually transmitted infection trading game! This game is a new craze that is sweeping bedrooms across nations. Have you got chlamydimander? How about herpesaur? Or evengonococcus? Collect and swap them now with your friends!

So, St. Valentine's Day is a great time to catch as many infections as possible. It will guarantee a visit to the doctors in March with a nasty urinary tract infection, a cold sore, itchy vagina full of smelly discharge, a penis clothed with warts and a possible positive HIV test.

The St. Valentine's Day could be the best, most romantic and funniest ever as long as you do not let it go to your head. Lose your heart, but don't lose your head. You should be smart and avoid situations that lead to problems when morning comes. Take this case, for example: A chap thought it would be pretty funny putting a pin through all of his best friends' condoms. It did seem like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, it seriously backfired when he found out his own wife was pregnant. For the best friend!

Prevention of pregnancy

Wearing a good condom on St. Valentine's Day could be an effective way of preventing pregnancy and therefore limiting your chances of having a baby by Christmas. Among the Yoruba, a December baby is rather special and likely to be called, 'Abiodun', just like yours truly.

Studies have suggested that babies born around November and December are better behaved and more intelligent than those born in the summer months.

Scientists at both Harvard and Queensland (Australia) universities took a look at the statistics and found that children born in November and December tended to be longer at birth than those born in the summer. By the age of seven, the winter-born kids were heavier, taller, and had larger head circumference than their peers. This means that if you want to give birth to an astronaut or a rocket scientist, ditch the condom in February and March. Also, ensure your partner stops taking contraceptive pills from now. No point climbing two mountains in one night.

NB: The morning after pill is currently the safest way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraception failure, with low incidence of side effects. It is very unlikely that you will have any serious or long-term side effects after taking it. If you do want to prevent having a December baby, then rush to your local chemist on Monday 15 and get 'Postinor'.