PH Residents Set For Valentine’s Day Celebration Despite Covid-19 Pandemic

Valentine’s Day also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a minor western Christian feast day honouring one or two early Christian martyrs named saint Valentine and through later folk traditions has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebrations of romance and love in many regions of the world including Nigeria.
Port Harcourt residents are not also left out of the celebration, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of many entertainment hangouts in the state as our investigations have revealed that the Valentine tradition would be observed, such as exchange of gifts, cards decorations which feature cupid and arrow, doves and hearts as well as romantic night out.
Some of the areas expected to be visited by fun lovers include the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, cinema houses, shopping malls, eateries and other entertainment outlets while observing the COVID-19 protocols.
Recall that the feast of St Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius 1 in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of Saint Valentine of Rome who died on that date in AD 269. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with lovebirds of early spring.
In 18th century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionary and sending greeting cards. Valentine symbols that are used today include the heart shaped outline, doves and the figure of the winged cupid.
Since the 19th century, hand written valentines have given way to mass production of greeting cards.

By: Jacob Obinna