Valentine's Day should be a Public Holiday

The month of love is finally with us. This week will culminate in the usually much awaited Valentine’s Day. As it is with most important days, Valentine’s Day is founded on pain and suffering. It is a day set aside to commemorate the death as a martyr, of St. Valentine. This saint was a Catholic Bishop during the reign of Emperor Claudius in Rome. It is reported that the Emperor abolished the institution of marriage among his soldiers because he believed single men fought better in war. Bishop Valentine however, continued conducting their weddings in secret until he was discovered and executed.

The modern Valentine’s Day involves thoughtful treats by lovers on each other. It has become a very important day and often turns out to be a significant milestone in relationships. I have been looking at this day and have decided that it should be made into a public holiday.

Overcoming Shyness

One of the biggest hindrances to the progression of relationships is shyness. This is particularly so with young men who are expected to make the first move (or any move for that matter). Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity for asking those tough questions to the women they love. On this day, only the most diabolical of women would be courageous enough to break a man’s heart.

Lover’s Reconciliation

Valentine’s Day is the perfect window of opportunity for lovers to make up after any spats in the preceding year. The air is heavy with love during this season and even the hardest of hearts is bound to melt with forgiveness. Reconciliations leads to the saving of marriages on the verge of collapse and the benefits of this extend even to the children. Nothing strengthens a relationship more than an emotional make-up after a painful break-up.

Moving Relationships to the next Level

Lately, women have been complaining that men are to slow to commit. This has led to frustrations in many relationships. Valentine’s Day is an ideal time for all those hesitant men to propose to their lady loves. There is something about making a commitment on a day set aside for everyone in the world to express their love to one another. A lot of lasting marriages are founded on a Valentine’s Day proposal.

Celebration of Love

For those who are already in love and in stable relationships, Valentine’s Day is the time to express that love. It is a day when ladies can wear screaming-red dresses and men can walk around town carrying bunches of roses without caring who is watching. After all, everybody else is doing the same. People can show love with complete and utter abandon. On which other day can one do that?

Side-lining of Mpango wa Kandos (Clandestine Lovers)

Being the official day of love, most men would not dare to be with their clande’s. They have to make the effort to be with their official wives. This then means that the day encourages the growth of proper families and discourages side dishes. This is good for society.

No lying at Work

All the things described above are full-day activities. It therefore means that, in those years when Valentine falls on a working day, people have to come up with all sorts of creative excuses to be away from work. The only reprieve has been the fact that even the boss is also up to similar activities of his own. If Valentine’s Day is made into a public holiday, people in love would not be forced to lie at work in addition to footing the hefty bills that accompany their loyalty pledges.

Benefits of making Valentine’s Day into a Public Holiday

I think the government should seriously consider making this important day into a public holiday. As can be gleaned from the Layman’s observations above, good loving relationships can be nurtured all over the country. Families, and by extension communities, would flourish. There would be less destitute children as a result of painful divorces. There would also be no need to lie at work in order to spend time with a significant other. But then, am just a Layman; who takes me seriously?

P.S. Can the Government consider subsidising chocolate and red roses during the month of love? This would really help even the low income earners to afford to express their love on this important occasion.