Two Days for Love
Every year we look forward to celebrating St. Valentine’s Day. This
is the day when you can make a declaration of love to the boy or to the girl who looks at
you every time he or she can, you but can’t break the ice. Please your dear with words
on the snow: “I love you” or with a colourful box, decorated with a big bow on the
top, with a statue of you in it; or just send a valentine card to your girlfriend or
boyfriend. We can also take part in the concert (competition of sweethearts) at a
university, or visit a club (a party) and dance in a costume of a Big Heart.
In short, St. Valentine’s Day has become a part of our lives, and
many of us have even forgotten that officially it’s a Catholic holiday. Moreover, a good
many of us have forgotten, or just don’t know, that there is such a holiday in Russia.
It’s the day of St. Peter and St. Phevroniya, which is celebrated on July 8.
There is a legend that prince Peter, who lived in Murom, saved his
brother’s wife from a Dragon. Peter’s body was covered with Dragon’s blood, and
Peter’s skin scabbed. Nobody could help him. Nevertheless, the prince’s servant found
a girl whose name was Phevroniya. She accepted to cure Peter on condition that he would
marry her. Recovered, Peter decided to cheat Phevroniya because he didn’t want to marry
a poor girl from a village (she lived in Laskovoe). So he sent her several presents and
returned to Murom. Soon he was taken ill again as one of the scabs hadn’t been dubbed
with a medicinal substance (Phevroniya guessed that he could cheat her, and advised him
not to daub one scab). So he had to ask her to cure him again and married her. They lived
long and happily, and died on the same day. Since that time they are considered to be the
ideal married couple. That’s why the day for those people who love in Russia is called
so.
As we have such a holiday in our country, there is a question:
“Should we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day?”
I think we should, even because it would be difficult for us to refuse
to celebrate it. It’s something like a habit when you get up early in the morning on the
14th of February and know that today is your favourite romantic holiday. For many people
it is so. By the way, it’s not bad that one day in a year practically everybody can tend
their wives or husbands, girlfriends or boyfriends a bit more. That’s why for many
people this holiday is like a tradition. Finally, it’s great that we have got TWO
wonderful holidays when we can speak about love more than we usually do; when we can
please and surprise our dearest. And you know that it’s good to do it as often as
possible.
So the snow on the streets prompts us to prepare presents and surprises
for St. Valentine’s Day; and dreams about a warm summer remind us of St. Peter and
Phevroniya’s Day. Good LOVE!
SleepleSSneSS
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