A Roman Catholic Priest, Walter Ihejirika, has provided insights into the historical and religious significance of Saint Valentine’s Day.
The Historical and Religious Significance of Valentine’s Day
Prof. Ihejirika, a professor of development communications and media studies, explains that the Roman Catholic Church honors Saint Valentine, who was a Bishop and Evangelizer martyred on February 14 during a period of intense Christian persecution. He notes that by the 5th century, Saint Valentine’s tomb in Terni, Italy, became a pilgrimage site, later maintained by Benedictine monks; over time, his name became associated with love, and couples sought his intercession for marriage.
The Roman Catholic clergyman highlights various historical accounts linking Saint Valentine to love, including his efforts in settling disputes between couples, secretly officiating Christian marriages to prevent young men from being conscripted in the army in ancient Rome, and replacing a pagan fertility festival. Prof Ihejirika emphasizes that the celebration should not focus on fleeting or sensual love but rather on true commitment and dedicated love between soon-to-be-wed and married couples.
“It is true that everybody talks about Valentine as a day of celebrating ephemeral love–love that is not committed, love that is only sensual. That is not st Valentunes day, that is another thing. So people who do that are using St Valentine to cover up what they feel is love. Love is about commitment, sacrifice, unity, steadfastness, and that is what Valentine represents.”
The priest, however, criticizes the over-commercialization of Valentine's Day. “Overcommercialisation of Valentine’s day is not a good thing”, he says. “especiallyifit'smeantonlyto buyaffection,towoosomeoneortakeadantageof the other person. For instance, a married man buying an expensive phone for a girl in the uniervsity with the intention of sleeping with her is not celebrating St Valentine’s day, the person is celebrating debauchery.”
Saint Valentine’s tomb in Terni, Italy
Prof Ihejirika urges couples, especially those who are married, to reflect on their relationship’s depth and purpose, fostering genuine love and commitment.
“We would like to see couples going out together to show affection to each other. We would like to see couples who try to renew their love on St Valentine's Day. The day is about celebrating love in marriage so that love can be stable. We are so much disturbed with the growth of divorce and separation in marriages. On this day, people are encouraged to renew their love and pray to St Valentine.”
A Different Approach: How a Pentecostal Church Celebrates Valentine’s Day
While the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Valentine's Day as a devotion to Saint Valentine, the patron saint of love, many other Christian denominations do not formally observe it. Some churches use the occasion to teach about Christian relationships, sexual purity, and marriage, while others organize youth programs aimed at refocusing young minds on Jesus Christ. Co-Pastor of HillTop International Christian Centre, Stephanie Oarhe, whose church has been at the forefront of Valentine’s Day celebrations in Port Harcourt City, speaks about what spurred her to start the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
“I started it in this town.” she said. “Next year, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our celebration of Valentine’s day. First of all, if you look at the society, 14th february is a day used to disvrgin a lot of young girls. Some people are raped, a lot of clubbing and drunkeness in the society. If that is allowed in society, I thought we could come in to cleanse the land in the right way.”
Dr. Oarhe explains that the story of the martyrdom of Saint Valentine resonates with her, inspiring her to initiate the True Love Relationship Conference within her church which is dedicated to rekindling the fire of vtrue love within marriages. She says she sees Valentine’s Day as a clarion call to uphold the sanctity of marriage, emphasizing that societal inclinations have caused many to devalue marriage, turning it into a "fighting ring."
A Different Era: How Older Generations Celebrated Valentine’s Day
We speak to a 77-year-old retired soldier and devoted Roman Catholic, Moses Eto, and he recalls that during his youth, Valentine’s Day was strictly observed as a day of devotion in his church and was barely recognized in society at large. He lamented that while the Roman Catholic Church still honors Saint Valentine, society at large has corrupted the day with immorality. Mr. Eto recounts that it was in 1998 that he first became fully aware of what he described as the "new and immoral way" of celebrating Valentine’s Day.
"In 1998, I was posted from Kaduna to Port Harcourt, and in our mess, they killed one boy because of an ‘excuse me dance.’ When they were dancing, a man killed the boy because he was dancing with his girl. It ended like that. In short, I don’t like the method they are using to celebrate Valentine’s Day these days."
The clergywoman, Dr. Oarhe, also admits that during her youthful years in the 1980s, contrary to what a lot of people might have thought, the mundaneness of Valentine’s Day was equally celebrated, especially among university students; however, she maintains that immorality is far more rampant among today’s youth than during their generation.
The Build-Up to Valentine’s Day: Expectations and Preparations
In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, many men shared their expectations regarding gifts from their partners. The men, both married and single, expressed a desire for more thoughtful gifts beyond the typical boxers and singlets. Speaking in an interview, they listed items such as PlayStation consoles, wristwatches, luxury belts, office bags, shoes, clothes, perfumes, cameras, and even cars as desirable gifts.
Some women also shared their plans for gifting their partners and the factors influencing their choices. Many said they intend to gift their partners whatever it was that they noticed to be their greatest yearning that period; however, they added that it should be budget-friendly; if not, they would go for what they could afford.
The Business of Valentine’s Day: Economic Realities
Despite the Valentine’s season, some gift shop owners reported that their sales remained steady, with no noticeable increase in patronage. Customers are purchasing only small quantities of items, often for personal use rather than as gifts. Two days to Valentine’s Day, we observed that markets and surrounding areas lacked the usual signs of the season, such as decorations or the sale of red and white clothing. Some online vendors noted that men are going all out this time. They speak to us on this.
"Nothing is happening; sales are the same. Nothing is moving, no one is buying."
"Sales are not moving well, so even though it’s Valentine’s season, there is no real indication that people are celebrating."
"The male gender is actually patronizing more because they are the ones trying to prove themselves in relationships."
"Compared to last year, sales have dropped from 80% to 50%. However, we expect a last-minute surge in orders."
These vendors also recommend alternative gift ideas for men beyond the usual boxers and singlets, such as beaded bracelets, customized necklaces, luxury T-shirts, tracksuits, and even gaming consoles.
Valentine’s Day Hangouts: Where People Celebrate
In the build up to Valentine's Day, some restaurant employees say they are preparing for Valentine's Day with beautiful decorations and special gifts for both couples and singles, ensuring everyone feels included in the celebration of love. A manager of one of the restaurants in Port Harcourt tells us that the restaurant she works for has added new desserts to their menu and planned fun activities. "We have lots of things in store for Valentine's day, we have music, comedy shows, and more. We've added different dishes to our menu; we've also included activities like karaoke, and we will also provide a comfortable space where both the single people and lovers can watch Netflix and chill ".
Despite the struggling economy, businesses believe that people will still celebrate, albeit on a smaller scale. The general sentiment is that while financial constraints exist, many are willing to go the extra mile to make their loved ones feel special.
Conclusion
The evolution of Valentine’s Day has left people with different interpretations of the day. While some Christian denominations emphasize devotion and commitment in marriage, with some others preaching purity and reconnection, there has equally been a level of commercialisation that has led to singles celebrating the day as well by gifting their partners. The debate between traditional and contemporary ways of celebrating Valentine's Day highlights the ongoing transformation of societal values, leaving individuals to decide how best to express their love.
