Be my Valentine!

Yes, romantic!

Valentine’s Day has become the romantic, dating, chocolate-and-roses, kissing, hugging and motel-reservation-traffic-and-have-to-wait that it has become today. Pity.

Lately, I have had a lot of talk about LOVE. It was the topic of the 4 masses I had in Seisen International School and also during the 2 lectures I had with the Stella Group (the mothers of the St. Paul-de-Chartres School called Shonan Shirayuri). These requests for talks and lectures are moments I love. They make me study more and see the angle of the faith on such cherished and abused topics such as LOVE. And part of it is, of course, is the February 14 Valentine’s. ( Uggghhh... I remember the art classes in elementary! The red art papers and red cartolina... all cut into heart shape decorations and cupid assortment... the red crayons that you rub out to form a shining pattern of red heart... ugggh!)

Here in Japan, Valentine’s is the day when a girl gives chocolates to the boy she has a crush on. Japanese society sort of like gave this chance for the female to confess her love to the male only on this day -- long ago, it was considered improper for women to propose. And it seems the ones who gave this chance were the chocolate companies. Yes, on the context that chocolate was not as popular yet to the Japanese palate. Talk about business! In the late 70’s, when white chocolate was starting in the market, they put it out as a product the guy can give to the girl as a sign that he reciprocates her love... and so, the relationship starts! Talk about business as a bridge to love!

Nowadays, it is now a common practice. Little girls giving chocolates to their dads. High school girls to their boyfriends. Ladies to their male officemates. Even old women to the priests! Lots of boxes lined up in supermarkets and convenience stores. Lots of recipes in the internet for homemade chocolate treats. Yes, February... the month when the calorie count of males in Japan just shoot up! I still remember a Russian female classmate in Japanese language school who gave each of her male classmates a chocolate bar on Valentine’s Day while saying, “This is so embarassing!” Well, no one told her to buy and give them in the first place!

For those of you who are going to celebrate Valentine’s Day in such romantic settings, be it in a reserved hotel dinner by candlelight or just corned beef on plain candles-during-blackout at home, please do remember that Valentine’s Day had a very CATHOLIC ORIGIN.

Yes... Valentine’s Day had a CATHOLIC ORIGIN!

It was religious by nature.

... and not the chocolate-eating, flower-shop-boom, nor the let’s-be-promiscuous-day that the present world has made it so. It’s like us making your own birthday a “Let’s-all-have-diarrhea-day”!

Want to know more about the real st. valentine? there's google!