From the Third Century to Tinder: Romance isn’t Dead
By Andrew P. Colgan
We are now rapidly approaching yet another infamous couple’s holiday and for any of you singletons out there, it is almost impossible to not roll your eyes at the prospect of happy couples enjoying themselves more than you. If no one agreed to come to the Christmas market with you in December, fear not friend, this short yet comprehensive guide will provide you with all the Valentine’s knowledge you will need to secure a partner in this most anxiety inducing time!
So why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? We all know that this holiday is one of the printing companies favourite times of the year, but is profit more important than love? Although no one is entirely sure, it is widely believed that Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who lived through the 3rd Century. Some stories tell of Emperor Claudius II, who callously ended romance in Rome, as he believed the Roman soldiers were too worried about loving their wives and not enough about the glory of the Roman Empire. Saint Valentine, assumedly obsessed with the idea of love, performed secret marriages in opposition to this.
Alternatively, it is also thought Saint Valentine was incarcerated for aiding Christians where he selflessly healed his jailer’s daughter of her blindness. Legend says he fell in love with her, but even this miracle could not spare him from execution which led to him very famously leaving his lover a letter claiming to be “Your Valentine”. I fear that I personally have no miracles to perform and thus we delve into a more strategic approach to finding a perfect date.
Considering the Roman origins of this celebration of love and romance, the Lupercalia Festival occurred every year on the 15th of February and ultimately served as a means of exiling evil spirits and infertility. The festival, in true Roman style, was gory, drenched in bloodshed and saw the sacrifice of many animals. It also provided a platform for those hopeful Roman couples to partake in random matchmaking, which was a bit like a Third Century Tinder except with higher prospects of finding a lover.
Although Lupercalia is no longer celebrated, online dating is here to stay and whilst it can be undoubtedly frustrating, it can sometimes provide opportunities that would not be available to you without sacrificing a goat. Go get a haircut, get your nails done or buy a new outfit and make sure those pictures on your profile are reminiscent of the trendy and approachable person you are. Don’t be afraid to be the first person to text, especially if you have already matched with someone! You miss every shot you don’t take.
Whilst I appreciate this style of communication isn’t for everyone, it is important to consider the more romantic gestures in modern society. Despite Valentine’s Day serving as the commercial monster that it is, the most important thing to remember that a kind or romantic gesture is memorable and often flattering regardless of the success. Really consider the delivery of your approach and if you know the person well, sentimental gestures like planning a date to the persons favourite place or buying their favourite flowers may just land you the answer we need! I personally love handwritten messages like cards, and I rarely throw these away.
So, what if that lucky person says “Yes”? Congratulations, you have won half the battle! The perfect date comes in different shapes and sizes. Each couple will have different interests and hobbies and it’s important to consider this before planning a date. For instance, if your lucky lover is a vegan, it’s probably good to avoid a steakhouse. Same again for drinking. Be mindful that if it’s a first date that first impressions are pivotal to success and people are extra observant when they are nervous.
As a particularly self-aware person, I am often grateful to come across a series of TikToks called “The Second Date” where prospective daters request assistance of radio hosts Brooke and Jubal in seeking a second date from what could only be described as disaster dates. Having listened to many of these, I am more self-aware than ever, but I am hoping this means I won’t make these mistakes myself. Whilst these videos evoke an unequivocal sense of cringe, I believe they provide a much-needed comic relief to the difficult dating world.
Whatever your plans are this Valentine’s Day, remember that the perfect date is not one of gifts and money but of kind gestures and romance. Good luck!
What are your favourite date spots? Share them with us here on our instagram; !
My favourite date spots:
- Margot (Cocktails)
- Shu Restaurant (Great food)
- House Botanic (Cocktails and Food)
- The Ivy (Food/Drinks)
- The Foundry (Drinks)
References:
History.com Editors. 2017. “Lupercalia.” HISTORY. December 13, 2017. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/lupercalia.
“What Is Valentine’s Day and How Did It Start? – CBBC Newsround.” 2019. Bbc.co.uk. February 14, 2019. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16945378.
