A priest, Roman soldiers, forbidden love, a poet, pagan fertility rites and a church membership drive.
Valentine’s Day has a rather interesting history. The tale begins with a Catholic priest, Saint Valentine, who married Roman soldiers in secret, an act forbidden by law. His ‘Love is love’ philosophy led to his own unfortunate end, executed on 14 February 270 AD. Adopted later as a saint’s day by the Catholic church to coincide with a pagan festival, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the poet Chaucer linked the day to romantic love. The rest is history.
Despite the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day, it’s worth keeping in mind the underlying sentiments – romance, thoughtfulness and kindness; giving without the expectation of getting something back.
Instead of being cynical about the day’s origins, why not make it work for you, your own way.
We all love good surprises, so why not be creative and choose activities that please your partner rather than yourself. Interaction and surprise are the key, so perhaps Valentine’s Day could be a new beginning, making time out together a regular event.
Romance is not gender-specific, so neither are our suggestions. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Share an activity that you can talk about – a walk, car trip or train trip to a new place.
- Frame an old photo that your partner has always loved.
- Pretend you are tourists for a day. Hire a hotel room and open a bottle of bubbly.
- Pack a picnic and head up to Burleigh Hill to watch the sunset and city lights.
- Fix something or do a chore your partner has been harping about.
- Spring Valentine’s Day on your partner a day early.
- Do something totally left field and unexpected for you as a couple.
- Write down what your partner means to you and give them the letter.
- Find a creative way to bring back romance to your relationship.
- Some of us never get around to asking, so why not now?
If you’re keen to follow tradition, here are seven places romantic enough for any date night:
Atto Korean Cuisine, Southport Ph: 0478 779 474
The Brooklyn Wine + Tapas, Varsity Lakes Ph: 0455 745 940
La Bella Cellar, Burleigh Heads Ph: 0448 819 758
Coast Beach Bar & Kitchen, Surfers Paradise Ph: 07 5636 9543
The Little Plate, Burleigh Heads Ph: 0499 724 303
The North Room, Mermaid Beach Ph: 0468 311 003
Potager – A Kitchen Garden, Carool Ph: 5590 7403
Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads Ph: 07 5630 6611
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NOTE: This article was published in The Sun on 13 February 2018. Updated June 2024.