Love is in the Air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the Air
Every sight and every sound
Millions around the globe painted their towns red earlier this week in romantic sweet nothings, carrying dozens of blush roses, beautiful bouquets and fine chocolates for their lovers.
Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14 is the traditional day on which people share and express their feelings of love. The day is now most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines".
Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid (in Roman mythology, Cupid was the god of erotic love). The first recorded association of St. Valentine's Day with romantic love was in the 14th century in England and France, where it was believed that February 14 was the day on which birds paired off to mate.
However, Valentine's Day, as it turns out, is not quite "loved" all over. In several places around the world, this “day of lovers” prompts controversy and widespread disapproval.
In Saudi Arabia, for example, this holiday is considered a symbol of Western decadence, banned as a pagan celebration among the infidels. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia's religious officials issued a harsh warning against St. Valentine's Day celebrations in any shape or form. The kingdom’s religious authorities have ordered Muslims to avoid the "pagan" holiday of Valentine's Day so as not to incur God's fury.
"It is a pagan Christian holiday and Muslims who believe in God and Judgment Day should not celebrate or acknowledge it or congratulate people on it," the Saudi fatwa committee said in a notice published in Arab-language newspapers. "It is a duty to shun it to avoid God's anger and punishment."
The committee approves only the two Muslim holidays that mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the annual hajj pilgrimage. "There are only two holidays in Islam - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha - and any other holidays ... are inventions which Muslims are banned from."
Though the religious origins of St. Valentine's Day are often lost amid its swirling commercial twist, many scholars trace the day to Roman Valentinus, a Catholic priest beheaded in the year 270 for marrying couples despite a decree from Emperor Claudius outlawing marriage. Claudius reasoned, perhaps correctly, that marriage distracted his soldiers and weakened his army.
In keeping with the prohibition against Valentine’s Day, in the past, Saudi religious police had reportedly monitored stores selling roses and other gifts associated with the holiday and have reportedly also arrested women for wearing red on this day.
Saudis undoubtedly have their own special ways of sharing their love and like true Muslims, don’t need a commercialized Western “unique day” to do so.
Islamic customs and beliefs understand the meaning and significance of love between parents, lovers and children and such values as respect, affection and honor are highly promoted throughout the entire year.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
