A Case for Celebrating
Valentine's Day might seem like a “Hallmark holiday,” but it’s actually older (and more significant) than you might think. We're making the case for celebrating Valentine's Day, and we're inviting you to join us.
Why? Well, at GoodKind, we're all about helping you engage with God and one another, at holidays and throughout the year. We take cues from the calendar and help you turn them into meaningful moments.
Even if you're not looking for a romantic celebration, we think it's worthwhile to take a day to express love and gratitude for a person (or people) God has placed in your life. So, without further ado, here's some history on how we ended up with Valentine's Day in the first place, and our take on how you can (and should) celebrate Valentine's Day this year.
Origins and Fun Facts
An 8th-century document called the Gelasian Sacramentary (That's right, long before Hallmark's debut) records the feast day of St. Valentine on … you guessed it … February 14, commemorating a 3rd-century Italian priest.
St. Valentine ministered to persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire, until he himself became one. And he was known for doing some pretty commemoration-worthy things.
According to one early tradition, Valentine miraculously restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Another tradition records that he performed many Christian weddings—which established the connection between "Valentine" and romance.
This however, became rather tragic, as his wedding ceremonies became a key reason why he was arrested and later killed. (Remember, Christianity was still a persecuted sect at the time.) On February 14, 269, he was beaten to death with clubs and stones, then beheaded. (Romantic, no?)
Valentine's celebrations, in later years, became a way of honoring the fallen saint and remembering him through various expressions of love. These date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, when the gift of lovebirds, rather than flowers and cards and chocolates, were the gift of choice.
One of the older (and more racy) references to Valentine’s Day is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ophelia, on the cusp of losing her mind from grief, composes a song about Valentine’s Day (which, in context, is a sort of warning about hook-up culture. Check it out if you're interested. Be advised: this is not P.G.)
So, what does this have to do with 21st century life—your life, to be specific? Underlying the teddy bears and chocolates and conversation hearts is something really meaningful. Love costs something. Sometimes more than others. But whether the cost is low or high, love is the greatest thing we can both give and receive, and we think it's worthy of celebrating.
30 Random Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day
- Go stargazing - it's better the farther you get from city lights. It will be worth the drive.
- Play board games - don’t be too competitive though.
- Go bowling - for 2, or 8.
- Build a sheet fort and have a sleep over.
- Do a spa night. We suggest just a little lotion and two robes.
- Give some spare time to make Valentine's day cards for each other (together).
- Order heart shaped foods, like pizza from Papa John's or Bo Berry Biscuits from Bojangles.
- Buy some chocolate covered strawberries. Or make them. Use melted chocolate and ice cube trays to make it easy.
- Buy flowers (together).
- Buy a plant (flowers die).
- Watch a movie on a projector (then return the projector).
- Make créme brûlée. (It’s not crazy hard, but it is crazy fancy.)
- Cook a meal together.
- Do a Bible study on the Song of Solomon. So many to choose from, so little time.
- Take a class together. Cooking, drinking, or dancing all sound nice. Maybe a couple?
- Sit outside by a Radiate Campfire. (Not sponsored, we just love 'em.)
- Take a bubble bath. But rinse off after so you don’t feel sticky.
- Make a couples love song playlist. Start with these…"All of Me" by John Legend, "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds (except that weird part), and "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.
- Go for a long walk during the day.
- Go out for lunch (It’s cheaper, less crowded, and bonus if kids are in school.)
- Play some music on your google, Alexa, Bose speaker or whatever… and dance. If you don’t know where to start, start with “Can’t Stop The Feeling.” We dare you not to dance.
- Buy chocolates.
- Eat chocolates. Clear the evidence before kids wake up.
- Karaoke.
- Recreate a scene from The Notebook.
- Recite a poem. We like this one, usually attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh. True love is a durable fire, In the mind ever burning, Never sick, never dead, never cold, From itself never turning.
- Eat dinner at home but dress to the nines.
- Let your kids cook dinner (if they're old enough, and IF you dare.)
- Go to Michaels and get a canvas and some paints and two paint brushes. Now paint a picture of your love.
- Make sushi. (Remember to get sushi grade.)*
- Mix up some cocktails or mocktails. Try new things!
* Cook seafood to 145°F, and heat leftover seafood to 165°F. To avoid foodborne infection, do not eat raw or undercooked fish, shellfish, or food containing raw or undercooked seafood, such as sashimi, some sushi, and ceviche. Please don't blame us for any poo poo problems.