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Valentine’s Day: How Did the Tradition Begin?

  • September 10, 2011 at 6:50 pm

There are varying opinions about the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some believe it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. he died on February 14, 269 a.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that among the things St. Valentine refused to give up was marrying Christians in the Christian Church. On the day of his death, it was said that he left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it from your Valentine.

Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. in 496 a.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date is still marked, to this day, by sending poems and simple gifts to your sweetheart.

In the United States, miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800′s, and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business each year on Valentine’s Day. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

Florists are busiest on Valentine’s Day, and roses are the traditional flower sent on Valentine’s Day, with the color of the flowers being symbolic. Traditionally, red roses are symbolic of love, pink roses (said to have bloomed from Mother Mary’s tears as she followed her son up Golgotha) are symbolic of Mother’s love, yellow roses symbolize caring and friendship, while white roses are symbolic of purity.

Valentine’s Day: How Did the Tradition Begin?

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Father’s, Mother’s and Valentine’s Day not for Muslims, say Imams

  • June 23, 2011 at 3:02 pm

Father’s, Mother’s and Valentine’s Day not for Muslims, say Imams by Azlan Othman

Muslims must refrain from celebrating Father’s Day as well as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Imams in the Friday sermon said that Muslims should not follow the cultures of non-Muslims and should stay on the right path.

Our community is keen to celebrate these occasions without looking into their sources or histories. Mother’s Day, for example, has been identified as a spring celebration for other races as a mark of respect to a mother of their God, Ria.

In the year 1600, they celebrated Mothering Sunday, which was marked on the fourth Sunday either in February or March. Christians would stop to eat for religious reasons because it was, in fact, to pay respect to Mother Mary.

Every mother is treated with cakes and such practices have spread worldwide. Mothering Sunday is also combined with other church activities.

In 1907, Anna Jarvis carried out a campaign to launch Mother’s Day, whereby she succeeded in influencing the Mother’s Church to celebrate the second anniversary of her mother’s demise on the second Sunday of May.

Meanwhile, Father’s Day was first celebrated in a church to mark the demise of 361 men in an explosion. a majority of them were immigrants and fathers. The idea to celebrate Father’s Day was first mooted by a son, Sonora, who saw his father’s sacrifice.

Sonora planned to spread his idea globally and was determined in achieving this mission. He ended up making the third week of June way back in 1972 as Father’s Day.

Therefore, it becomes obvious that the celebrations mentioned are not for Muslims and they are advised not to jointly mark the occasions.

Islam in fact urges the Ummah to do good deeds for their parents regardless of the time period. Additionally, Muslims are reminded that not all cultures are good to be followed and evaluations are required.

For Muslims, our yardstick or benchmark is the Islamic law. They should not go against their own religions and blindly follow other cultures.

Father’s, Mother’s and Valentine’s Day not for Muslims, say Imams

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