IMPORTED CULTURE - Valentines Day

Globalization, a concept that was introduced to get the nations bounded together economically has helped not only in the import and export of goods and services but of 'cultures' as well. We Indian's
are too fond of every thing that comes with a tag that reads:'IMPORTED'. We end up paying a huge sum of money on such goods and services blindly trusting on their quality and source.

Speaking about the 'imported culture' the most prominent element to be mentioned is the FESTIVALS rather DAYS. Father's day, Mother's day, Hallowen's day and the most controversial THE VALENTINE'S DAY.

The Valentine's Day has its origins in the European countries. The most talked about stories are the one When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Saint Valentine - a priest who served during the third century in Rome, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his Jailor's daughter-who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

The 1st poem of Valentine by Charles was...

This month bright Phoebus enters Pisces,
The maids will have good store of kisses,
For always when the fun comes there,

Valentine's Day is drawing near,
And both the men and maids incline
To chuse them each a Valentine;
And if a man gets one he loves,
He gives her first a pair of gloves;
And, by the way, remember this,
To seal the favour with a kiss.

This kiss begets more love, and then
That love begets a kiss again,
Until this trade the man doth catch,
And then he doth propose the match,
The woman's willing, tho' she's shy,
She gives the man this soft reply,
"I'll not resolve one thing or other,
Until I first consult my mother."
When she says so, 'tis half a grant,
And may be taken for consent.

This Day of pure love was mistaken to be a day of 'show-off' or i would term it as the day of PDA - Public Display of Affection. Many Indian traditional minds consider it as a think it as vulgar , westernization of Indian culture on the other hand some say it is good as we people are becoming modernized .some say it is Definitely a curse on Indian tradition.It not only encourages stealthiness and also nurses a desire for unholy union of young mind and encourages rebellion attitude against their own kith and kin.I think it is purely
because of globalization that we are getting to know about these but it is not coming under the periphery of our tradition and our moral ethics. As a whole I can say that neither it is a bane nor a boon its just between the two, purely depend upon the personal thoughts . Because in western society people are very folksy. They are very much informal in the manner in which they dress themselves , but in India you will not find it so bold. Indian tradition is very feminine in nature i.e shy, introvert, formal, mannered, soft and warm.

Valentine day is a boon or bane completely depends on individual understanding. 
I would rather say, A Boon for those who have a valentine and a curse for those who don't have one.
Valentines Day, a baby of our Imported Culture.