How has Valentines Day Changed Over Time?

From a day of romance to an occasion that celebrates love in all its forms, that is how Valentine's Day has evolved over the years. From gifting tokens of love to girlfriends, wives to boyfriends and husbands this day has now become significant for sending Valentine gifts or tokens of love and affection across relationships. So, be it your wife or sister or mother you can now find this occasion as a reason to express your love for all of them through the various means that have become popular these days.

The reason people began celebrating Valentines Day was to honour a priest named Saint Valentine. Gradually the basis of this occasion has changed to a day that is relevant for the feelings of love, from the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love to the nonsexual emotional closeness of familial love, which is more platonic in nature. In fact this is one celebration that has lost the significant association with its origin.

Valentine's Day has also evolved into a commercial occasion. From cards and chocolate companies to florists, these days everyone comes into action with the knowledge of Valentine's Day being round the corner. It has definitely become associated as being one of the most 'profitable' occasions in a calender year.

This is a day which has so many facets to it and that too also since it is an occasion which is so personal in nature. That has resulted in the celebration having taken a different flavor with differences in places, regions and cultures across the world.

Views on Valentines Day Celebrations

There are conflicting views on the celebration of Valentine's Day.

Some people still recognise it as a Christian festival. And thus, do not even acknowledge its presence as an event to be marked in a calender year. The people who are critical of Valentines Day have two reasons to back their approach. One is the distinct religious leanings of this celebration. The other is that some people simply find this celebration silly, frivolous and impractical.

Then there are those who are not bothered about the origins of this festival and associate it with rediscovering love and romance. It is to this group of Valentine Day lovers that this day owes its popularity to.

Valentine's Day has also undergone a transformation from a quiet, unassuming observance to a loud commercialized affair. There are different takes on this aspect among the world population. Some people celebrate this day with pomp and gaiety whereas others keep it a private affair.

This approach to festivities of Valentines Day depends on two factors, one of which is the cultural and familial influences, the other is the age factor. There is an age and stage for these celebrations, but then some people never lose their innocent approach to love and life.

Nature of Celebrations On Republic Day

Republic Day is observed in India on 26th January of every year. It is a day that fills our heart with pride for our country as it was on this day that we became free from an imposed governance and adopted our own constitution.

Republic Day is popularly known for a national parade which moves from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Red Fort in the capital of India, Delhi. Before the beginning of the parade, the country's leaders, President, Prime Minister and the commanders of the Indian Armed Forces salute the brave martyrs who gave up their lives to defend the nations honour. Another head of state is invited as the chief guest on this occasion.

The President of India who is also the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces takes the salute of the Republic Day parade. This parade showcases the military strength of our country through floats (depicting the technological advances in weaponry) and marching columns of the different regiments of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other central armed forces. This parade also displays the cultural richness of our country through colourful floats and performers who dance and sing throughout the parade. Bravery awards are given before the parade to the heroes of the armed forces (for their exemplary service) and chosen young children for their bravery in everyday situations. The parade concludes with a flypast of the Indian Air Force jets showering flowers over the dias where all dignitaries are seated.

The Republic Day parade is followed by millions of viewers across the country. Republic day parades are also held in the various other administrative regions of of our country. Also, Indians across the country sport miniature national flags and badges and greet each other with sweets while wishing each other 'Happy Republic Day'.

Harvest Festivals of India

India is a land that thrives on its primary occupation, agriculture. It is also the backbone of the Indian economy and of the social structure of our country. An agriculturist is dependent on the seasonal changes and the natural reservoir of resources to get a bountiful harvest every season. Thus new beginnings, occasions to celebrate have always been marked around these seasonal climatic changes only.

If we talk with respect to the farming community, the time of harvest is for leisure for the farmers, a time to be spent celebrating a good season gone by or an excellent produce. There are various festivals in India that are marked around the harvest season. Some of these are,

The midwinter festival known as Lohri is celebrated in north India, in Assam it is called Bhogali Bihu, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it is known as Sankranti whereas in Andhra Pradesh it is celebrated as Bhogi, when each household puts on display its collection of dolls. Holi in Eastern India is a springtime harvest festival which has more of a religious flavour than in other parts of the country. In Kerala the harvest festival which comes in after the rainy season is called Onam. Pongal is a midwinter harvest festival celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu.

Though all these festivals have cultural differences, but they do have something in common. All of them signify peace, prosperity and progress. They are also a time for communal celebrations and for family gatherings.

Sending Wishes on the Festive Season

It is the festive season here and all of us are in the mood for celebration. This is also the time to remember your near and dear ones and acquaintances too. We all have our own way of reconnecting with people around us. These are some of the ways of doing the same.

Sending Gifts
If you are someone who loves to express yourself through gifts, festive season gives you another reason to do the same. Gifts are a very thoughtful idea and remain in the memories for along time to come.

Sending Messages
This is a new age tool which is put to the maximum use during the festive season. These days if the season to celebrate is round the corner the process of sending and receiving bulk messages is underway.

Calling Up
Another use of telephones or mobiles is making calls to people and wishing them on important occasions. And especially so since these days occasions have started acquiring a universal appeal. One needs to take an initiative and remember people who matter, especially so during the festive season.

Sending Mails
E-wishing is a brand new phenomena. It is more economical and far reaching in terms of frequency of people you want to reach out to too. And this is an ideal tool for those who love to write and keep in touch with people around them.