"War on Words & Meaning"
Notes & thoughts from Valentin Mellstrom
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The Two tales of Valentine's Day.
The cultural impact of Valentine's is undeniable, being up there with the celebrations like Christmas and mothers day! and story behind Valentin's Day, is much more than just a "commercial gimmick", its has profound meaning, and is at it's core, a battle between two histories.
One of them is of love, sacrifice, and standing up for something bigger than yourself, and the other...of unchecked desire, fleeting pleasure, and indulgence without commitment.
And here’s the profound importance of this, whichever story we embrace today doesn’t just shape our own lives, it shapes the next generation’s idea of love.
After talking to multiple people, I realized many weren’t even aware of the full history. So, as someone named Valentin, I wanted to share what I’ve learned. Valentine’s Day should be a day of remembering values and sacrificial love—not a day focused on lust, desire, or feeling disappointed over gifts and grand gestures.
Saint Valentine: The Man Who Wouldn’t Back Down
In ancient Rome, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, believing single soldiers fought better. A priest named Valentine saw through the lie and continued marrying couples in secret—because love isn’t about convenience, it’s about commitment.
For that, he was thrown in prison. Ordered to renounce his faith, he refused. Before his execution, he sent a letter to his beloved, signing it “Your Valentine.” His story isn’t about chocolates and roses—it’s about standing up for real love, even when it costs everything.
Lupercalia: The Wild Party That Missed the Point
But there’s another side to this day. Before Valentine gave it meaning, the Romans had Lupercalia—a pagan fertility festival where men whipped women with strips of sacrificed animals, hoping to bring them fertility. It was about passion without purpose, desire without devotion.
Sound familiar? Today, we see the same thing—hookups over holiness, lust over love, instant gratification over lifelong commitment. What was meant to be sacred has been twisted into a celebration of fleeting feelings over faithfulness.
Choosing What Love Really Means
So here’s the real question: Which version of Valentine’s Day are we living out? The one where love is a sacred covenant—where two people commit, sacrifice, and build a life under God? Or the one where love is just another word for indulgence, something we use when it suits us and discard when it doesn’t?
Saint Valentine fought for something real. He believed love was worth the risk, worth the sacrifice. If we want to live out true love—not just for ourselves but as an example for the next generation—we have to stand up for it, too.
This Valentine’s Day, let’s make sure we’re choosing love that lasts, love that honors, love that reflects God’s design—not just another excuse to chase what fades.