Think 'love is all you need'? Think again.
by Kathleen Sprouse, posted Feb. 6, 2008
Will he be bringing flowers or chocolates? Should I get her white or red roses — what do these colors mean? Will I be alone?
Valentine’s Day can mean a romantic dinner with a sweetie, dinner with good friends, a lonely dinner in your dorm or a day to celebrate your independence. For many, Valentine’s Day is special and a yearly reminder to tell your partner how much you care. But, for some, it can be a depressing reminder that they are alone.
“I hate Valentine’s Day,” said Kim Guardado, an MU freshman. “It can be fun if you like someone.”
So why do we eat lots of chocolate, profess our love or feel depressed on Feb. 14? Well, according to the History Channel Web site, one legend says that St. Valentine was a Roman priest in the third century who risked his life to marry young lovers after Emperor Claudius II outlawed the institution. Claudius decided single men were better soldiers than men with families and wives. Sadly, when Claudius heard what St. Valentine was doing, he had the priest killed. A less romantic, but still heroic, legend is that St. Valentine was helping Christians escape from harsh conditions in Roman prisons.
Today, companies such as Hallmark prosper thanks to the sacrifices of St. Valentine. Almost one billion greeting cards are sent each year, according to the Greeting Card Association. Around 85 percent of valentines are sent by women, and the holiday is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and France.
Still debating where to make a reservation for dinner? Some MU students prefer a more creative dinner.
“My boyfriend took me on a carriage ride through Forest Park in St. Louis,” said Megan Verbeck, a sophomore English education major. “Then took me back to his house and made me dinner.”
If you are not up for an adventure in the kitchen, order the Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two Special from Hoss’s Market. The dinner includes two 7- to 8-ounce filet mignons grilled to your liking, a lobster tail, Caesar salads, twice-baked potatoes, green beans, rolls and two hand-made Joseph Schmidt chocolate truffles for $79.95. Or, surprise your special someone with a box of Hoss’s hand dipped chocolate strawberries.
Valentine’s Day can be awkward if you are newly dating. Lunch is a great alternative to a more romantic, but possibly more pressure-filled, dinner.
“Newly dating, I would give girls flowers because girls always love flowers,” said Kyle Pearson, a senior biology major. “I would never give girls food because girls are weird about food, not all but you might encounter one and you can just avoid it all by not giving them food.”
Giving flowers, a teddy bear, or balloons is easy to do on campus thanks to Tiger Garden. It is located in the Agriculture Building and offers a wide variety of flowers and prices. Tiger Garden opened for business two years ago and is run by students of all different majors. Louise Bullock, who helps the students run the floral shop, says the student employees are great at helping MU students pick out the perfect arrangement. Bullock stressed the importance of picking just the right bouquet.
“Red is love, white is innocence and purity, they all have meanings,” Bullock said about roses.
If you place an order before Feb. 8, you will receive a 10 percent discount. Even better, Tiger Garden delivers on campus, free for orders of more than $40 and $5 for orders under $40. Tiger Garden also accepts MU student charge.
For more information, visit the Tiger Garden Web site, or call 573-884-1191. To place an order at Hoss’s Market, visit them at the corner of Nifong and Forum Boulevard or at their Web site. You can also call 573-815-9711 or e-mail your order to hoss@hosssmarket.com.
A fun event to get you excited and prepared for Valentine’s Day is this Friday, Feb. 8 from 8 p.m. to midnight. MU is hosting a Valentine’s Day Bash at Memorial Union including speed dating, a dating game, free Shakespeare’s pizza, free photo booth, crafts and Valentine’s treats. The event is free to students and $5 dollars for the public. A great place to make a gift and have some fun with a date or with friends.
