The Sunday Mail
I once attended a Valentine’s Day dance where an extraordinarily tall gentleman and his pint-sized partner stole the hearts of many with well-choreographed foxtrot dance routines.
The atmosphere generated by this immaculately-dressed couple was so electric that it left this Glen Norah born and bred writer mesmerised.
Scarlet petals were neatly scattered on the floor of the dimly-lit red-themed eatery.
A musical outfit was serenading guests with love ballads that effortlessly connected them with the goddess of romance.
It is sweet and fulfilling to be in love.
Guests in the room were well-dressed, with not even a hair out of place as they ate and drank lavishly in celebration.
Hell, however, broke loose when one guest reached for the hand of a guy sitting on an adjacent table. He dragged the hapless fellow and planted a powerful blow on his face, sending his spectacles flying.
“Eh … ko zvaita sei apo? Batai vanhu avo, stop them,” people shouted as women screamed.
“Hautore mukadzi wemunhu woda kushaina! Unoifira, unokuvara, tokupesanisa hudyu, unotiza dhorobha,” the assailant was heard shouting.
In the melee, the married woman at the centre of the scandal disappeared into the darkness.
Others who were similarly conflicted quickly vanished for fear of being humiliated.
Welcome to the world of love.
Today being Valentine’s Day, lovers feel inclined to celebrate love.
Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.
It reportedly originated as a minor Western Christian feast day honouring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Valentines connected to February 14.
These include an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century.
According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer.
Numerous later additions to the legend have related it to the theme of love.
An 18th century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution.
Another addition posits that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry.
In modern times, the day is usually celebrated through sharing meals, performing random acts of caring and exchanging gifts and flowers. This is a day when deadbeat fathers are seen staggering home with flowers or a borrowed chicken in hand.
Some characters borrow anything red from friends and relatives to give the impression that they care. Restaurant owners, florists and music outfits capitalise on such celebrations, which have been commercialised over the years.
It is not unusual for colleagues to borrow money with a promise to pay back after St Valentine’s Day.
“Usatye. Ndokusota after Vale. Ingondikandira ka thaza ($1 000) tozofambira nyaya dzacho after zuva rerudo,” they will tell you with a straight face.
However, the script looks a lot different this year.
St Valentine’s Day is coming at a time when the country is on lockdown and observing a 6pm to 6am curfew, which deals those given to public displays of affection a heavy blow.
It is even worse being a Sunday.
There will be no one to see those who usually buy themselves flowers for delivery at the workplace.
I pity florists who have come to consider St Valentine’s Day as a cash cow.
Musical outfits remain banned and lovers have nowhere to go out. Some people, however, attach no importance to the day.
“Flowers do not add love. I would rather buy my children food than flowers. The day is ordinary, so there is nothing to smile about,” said one gentleman.
It is tough this year; better luck next year.
Inotambika mughetto.
