by Nikki Fei

Created on: November 14, 2008

Modern times has us living in a fast pace world where we are quick to forget the true beauty of holidays. Since the beginning of modern civilization, we have come to love flattering gifts bought or received. In my personal belief, to expect expensive gifts is to celebrate the compliments to come; not to celebrate the rare moments you have had with your beloved. To truly understand my confidence in this belief, you will have to understand how this holiday of love came to be.

In the book of Legenda Aurea, it tells a story of a man named Saint Valentines who had been sentenced to prison after secretly performing marriage ceremonies for young men. During the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius II, young men were not to remain single in accord to his law for he believed that married men did not make great soldiers. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, legend has it that he performed a miracle by healing his Jailer's blind daughter. To this girl that he has befriended, he wrote the first "valentines" addressed to this young girl. A note that read, "From your Valentines".

Saint Valentines started this holiday with an unselfish act of love and to expect ravishing gifts diminishes the purpose of why we celebrate this holiday. A gift has to have a special meaning to show an affection of their true message and I don't think there is a price tag that can be put to affection. Time, thought, and care put into a gift means so much more to me than another 2 ct diamond ring on my finger. It may be flashy, but it's so much more meaningful to tell a friend about the sterling silver bracelet that has been passed down for generations that I have come to receive, or the scarf that he has attempted to create (even though it looks like a tangled ball of yarn).

Contrary to my belief, my Fianc tries to please me at all times and at every chance that has been given. He's the type to spend mountains of cash to show his affection that he has for me and finds it fascinating that I seek his time and a moment of just us' over a new diamond tennis bracelet. In this debate, I feel it really depends on how we choose to accept gifts, and how we choose to understand this holiday. As you can plainly see, I choose to accept a gift of time and memories in place of something that I can earn through my own hard work. You see, I don't need him to work hard to please me; I just need him to enjoy this great holiday of love with me.

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