Valentine’s Day small talk. Whats yours?

No prizes for guessing rightly. Today February 14 2014 is St Valentine ’s Day. That means there is love in the air once again. Different people will celebrate the day in their own unique style. Some will propose, some will marry while millions of  flowers and greeting cards will change hands.

Then there will be millions of text messages on viber, whatsapp, facebook and the other social media platforms mostly for those who live miles away from each other.

For the very imaginative, they planned some nine months ago that their baby will be born today so maternity wards will help deliver many valentine babies . Sadly, some lovers will break up a short difficult relationship or a long term partnership that just did not work, today.

According to Wikipedia “…St. Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valeninus.. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies.   A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman empire.. According to legend,  during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution,  he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.  Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion. as well as in the Lutheran Church…”

So how will you be celebrating the day? What is it about St Valentine’s day that sends your heart racing? Is this just an excuse to spend, spend and spend? Do we really need just one day out of three hundred and sixty five to celebrate God’s gift to mankind- which is Love? What are your memories of St Valentine in days past? How do you intend to make this particular Valentine day different?

These are the questions we posed to some of our readers. Their answers are as  varied as their experiences will invariable be different. Iroko Magazine wishes all its readers happy Valentines’ day and happy reading. Remember to stay safe.

Miss Mamsie Mkhwanazi. Fashion Designer. Durban, South Africa

Mamsie (R)

Valentines Day to me is a special day whereby lovers express their appreciation for each other through gifts, cards and some even “pop the question” or get married this day.
In my love history I never really got someone “romantic” on Valentines. To my partner, it wasn’t a big deal.  We would go out and eat nothing really jaw dropping.

Most Valentines Day normally catch me single so I normally buy myself fresh roses and chocolates. I know it’s ridiculous but it works. What gift I will like foor a special valentine? I wish for a dinner surprise in a yacht with music in the background, good company and stud diamond earrings.

I think Valentine benefits mostly businesses. St Valentine celebration wasn’t really big in Germany according to my research but business people managed o exploit that and sell all kinds of love related things. This happens in most countries on earth today.

All I can say now  is though Valentines comes once a year, people should be careful. First be sure you really want a baby before you say yes. Am I ready to get married? Is he the one? Is it worth it if you get infected?

Be careful out there . Happy Valentines to my mom and dad. After all this years, they are still going stronger. And to all the lovers out there, let it be special everyday not just today. Love is a misunderstood beautiful thing, Enjoy responsibly

Miss Commy Mussa. Journalist. Bamenda. Cameroon

Comfort Mussa

St Valentine;s day is just another day to me. I personally don’t think the day is just a marketing gimmick. Businesses however profit from the day to sell flowers, greeting cards, and gifts.

Mrs Vicky Ngamsha.  Willenhall. United Kingdom

Mr & Mrs Ngamsha

I Knew my husband for 15 years before  our wedding. We have been married for 11 years and everyday is Valentine day for us. It has always been so which means  February 14th makes no difference to Max and myself. We are always in love wooo!

Proud to say he is the best man in the whole world.

Thompson Nga aka Pagal. Birmingham UK.

I don’t do Valentine day which in plain English means I have never celebrated any Valentine day. I think the day serves no purpose and just gives an excuse for business people to make some extra cash. The gifts that lovers and couples exchange on jus this one day makes some very rich people richer-and evidently, some poor people poorer. As far as I am concerned, people should demonstrate their love o echo her everyday of the year and not just on one particular day. I find that laughable. Fortunately, nobody can be forced o celebrate St Valentines day. Anybody who wants to celebrate the day, go for it and for those like me, we will continue o show my better halves we love them every other day. I am not asking that the day be abolished but I wan people to see beyond the surface and understand this is all about marketing and making some people rich.

Honore Fon. Moderator, facebook group 1001 Reasons. Bamenda, Cameroon.

Honore Fon aka Jaam

I think Valentine day is a bit overrated. You don’t have to sit and wait only for Valentine’s day to show someone how you feel about the relationship. Celebrating birthdays and marriages is a much worthwhile thing to do. Many use today to do an audit of their relationships to assess their partners level of commitment. Some people set traps for their partners to fall into and when they don’t, hey will notice a lot of faults mainly based on their unrealistic expectations. I once got all excited about an upcoming Valentine day but was jilted by my girlfriend a week or so before the big day. Instead of getting all angry, I took all he money I planned to spend on that day and give myself a treat with a shopping spree. Bought some nice T Shirts and a pair of jeans. I later caught up with some friends that evening who also did not have valentines aand we had a lovely time. We also chatted up some cute girls who equally had some sad love stories o laugh about.

Valentine day is just like any other day to me. Player can play, actors can act, bu I am watching what they will do for the other 364 days in a year. Everyday counts.

Mashadi Motlhabi. Fashion Designer, South Africa.

Mashadi mothhabi

My sister’s Birthday is on valentines day, so it’s always been a day when I celebrate her birth.Even people that I’d be dating would know that I won’t be available on this day because of my sister. I do think it’s a gimmick because love can be celebrated at any day of the year.

I think all I’ve had as a gift from guys has been chocolate or a card, nothing too extravagant.

Julian Sandi aka John Remedy. London, UK

Julian Sandi aka John Remedy

St Valentine is the day set aside for people to celebrate their love for one another. I celebrate the day because I belief love is a beautiful gift from God that should not be abused.

Memories of my best valentine day? Well I am laughing out loud here.I can say all my valentine days for the past four years have been memorable. I’ve been blessed to have met wonderful classy women who have been caring and loving to me. I am a fountain of love. I enjoy giving and receiving affection to people. I treasure women very much.

The best Valentine gift I have ever received is this year and it came before he actual date today.I lost my Faith of Shield sometime ago during the casting for a film role. It has a scripture quote on it Joshua 1:9. A dear friend recovered it, knew how much it meant to me and surprised me with it like a gift. The best gift I ever gave on St Valentine is a commitment ring. The ring meant a lot to the person I gave i o not only because of the price tag but because of the love we shared.

Please share some love this Valentine day with my new single; Like a Dream by John Remedy Feat Tina Marie now available on Itunes and various online shops.

Get connected on facebook Julian Sandi (page The Remedy)

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel and book me for gigs.

Email johnremedy007@gmail.com