Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.
Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.
Martyrdom stories associated with various Valentines connected to February 14 are presented in martyrologies, including a written account of Saint Valentine of Rome imprisonment for performing weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire.
According to legend, during his imprisonment Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his judge and before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.
In 2007 Ghana proclaimed Valentine’s Day, as ‘National Chocolate Day’. Giving chocolate as a gift means there’s something special about the person and also to show them that they are important or there is something important about them.
The then Tourism and Diasporan Relations Minister, late Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey asked Ghanaians to champion the campaign to turn the day into National Chocolate Day.
As Ghana marks the day, a Minister in-charge, Presbytarian Church of Ghana, Grace Congregation in Tema Community 11, Reverend Lawrence Kwesi Tete, has charged Christians, on the celebration of Valentine’s Day, to unite and rededicate themselves to their faith in the season of love.
He said Valentine’s Day had been commercialized over the time and misconstrued by many Christians in their attempt to show love to one another.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of a programme to commemorate Valentine’s Day, dubbed “Family Enrichment Night” at his church, Rev. Tete said it was imperative for Christians to know the true essence of the celebration of Val’s day and proclaim God’s true love.
Some portions of this article was culled from Wikipedia and Ghana News Agency, (GNA).
By Ruth Abla Adjorlolo
