Putting the love back in Valentine’s Day

I feel that if I start this sentence with I loathe Valentines’ Day, it will paint me as a bitter soul… I can see why. But before you judge, hear me out.

The premise of Valentine’s Day is a good one; an entire day in appreciation of the one we love. I mean, this is quite beautiful. But here is where it goes sideways… the majority of us show our love with gifts – on average $40 worth of gifts. Is it just me or is this a touch convoluted?

$40 buckaroos? I’m at a loss for words (this is rare). I’m just going to throw it out there – what if we take that $40 bucks – heck, even half – and provide a meal to a homeless child or donate or help out with funding towards life saving research?

I’ve managed to wrangle up some of our staff and encourage you to do the same. Join us and put the love back into Valentine’s Day.

This February 21, the Schill Team is participating in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk – a fantastically fun, family-friendly walking fundraiser that raises money for the hungry, homeless and hurting in 80+ communities across Canada. Sign up or donate and help support a worthy cause.

We’re also participating in the Heart and Stroke Foundation Big Bike Ride and are collecting donations. Man, I’m feeling the love now 😉

Did you know?

St. Valentine’s Day is based on a highly unromantic event. Valentine, a high priest of Rome, did lose his head to love, but it was love of his Christian faith, which he refused to renounce. So on February 14 of either 269 or 270 A.D., the Roman emperor had him beheaded. No sweet nothings yet.

The feast of St. Valentine of February 14 was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I. Still, no flowers or roses.

However, by the 15th century, Valentine’s Day had evolved into a romantic event, one for which cards, flowers and candy were sent. Many scholars attribute this change to the influence of the medieval concept of courtly love. Until the mid-1900s, most cards were made by hand. But everything old is new again – the “homemade card” look is a trend now found in many stores.