Valentine's Day And Yuan Xiao Jie

Today is 14 February. It is Valentine's Day. Once in a long time,
like today it coincides with Yuan Xiao Jie, which some say is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day in a way. So expect to more than the usual crowd out there everywhere, all dressed to the T, to impress, to celebrate as commercialism up the ante on such an occasion.

The irony of life is that those who are single and alone may yearn to be attached while those who are attached may look at it another way and thinking "dude you don't know what you are getting into". Yet some people treat others like things - once you get it, you take things for granted and no longer treasure it as before. Just ask your things - cars, iPads, golf clubs, clothes, shoes, bicycles, rackets, whatever, etc.

To me, Valentine's Day is like the Lunar New Year as Roses and other flowers are like Bak Kua. Eat your Bak Kua everyday except during the Lunar New Year because prices go up many times and the quality suffers too. Ditto for Valentine's Day. Don't be a cheapo you may say. No, cheapos buy plastic flowers. Lol. Why don't you buy a stalk of rose everyday and it will cost you only $365 a year. There is also better consistency in everyday love and you give florist steady income! 

Then there are those who seldom or do not buy flowers for their special one and then to suddenly do it can spell trouble. Because women, due to their superior intuition will suspect something is amiss such that you must have done something wrong and felt guilty therefore to send her flowers. In this case, if you are sincere and faithful, you should explain that those who send flowers frequently have done more wrongs than you. Do it wrongly and you may end up with missing body parts in different river where all the King's horses and all the King's men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again. Haha. 

While celebrating, how many people actually understood to origins of Valentine's Day or Yuan Xiao Jie (where Yuan means round Xiao means overnight and Jie is Festival) aka as Chap Goh Mei (in Hokkien and Teochew dialect means 15th evening or night). 

Valentine

Once upon a time there was a feast of Lupercalia where men hit on women. Young women would line up for drunken and naked men to be hit (using animal skin whips) as it was believed it would make them fertile. Then they do a matchmaking lottery to couple them up for the duration of the festival. Even if I were to be born during their time, I would not believe such things. Why would I want to whip you for if you are a man much more so when you are a woman? But sure, there are some fellows out there that really need to be whipped.

According to legend, a Christain named Valentine (of Terni) was tortured, imprisoned and finally beheaded by an oxymoron Roman leader whose name is Placid Furius (haha). Another Christian by the same name of Valentine was martyred. He was charged for helping prisoners. While in jail, he converted his jailer by healing the jailer's blind daughter's sight. They might probably have fallen in love and he later sent her a note signed: "From Your Valentine".

Why Red roses?

The Roman Goddess of Love, love red roses. The colour is a symbol of strong feelings. A red Ferrari is hot. A road bully on a rage is also red in the face and has strong feelings for you so watch out as not everything red is good.

Dove 

Doves are symbols of peace, loyalty and love. Do you know that doves are mates for life and share the care of their babies? And no go eat your chickens or ducks, doves are not for eating.

Cupid 

He is the God of desire, affection and erotic love. At this point, some of you may only be reading erotic love. He is often depicted using a bow and arrow shooting to inspire romantic love. Cupid has since been lazy or instead of being erotic has become erratic as less people are getting attached or married and more may be choosing same sex relationship giving HPB a hard time straddling on differing views.

Yuan Xiao Jie

According to legend, Yuan Xiao is the name of a palace maid who missed her parents but with the help of someone kind who happened to be the emperor's favourite adviser, she managed to get reunited in  meeting her parents by concocting a big festive occasion as if it were decreed by the Gods and they celebrated by also eating rice balls and as she made the best rice balls, they named it after her - Yuan Xiao. It was also during ancient times where single females of marriageable age were not often allowed to step out of their homes except during this time. Young women were chaperoned in the streets or village squares (no shopping malls like now at the time) and where lecherous young men went around hoping to find love. If he found someone he likes, he has to engage a matchmaker to act for him. Today, these matchmakers are called "soccer agents".   

Start something good and great today like our Valentines. Some day, a hundred years from now, people the world over could be celebrating you!

From Your  Valentine Guru.
Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Yuan Xiao Jie! Happy TGIF!!

 I offer you my kind of love songs. Guitar licks and all. Rock it!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqjBpNT1sc (Ready For Love - Bad Company)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRVwcPTnug8 (Love Is Like Oxygen - Sweet)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0BRic3Hngo (Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3xwCkhmies (Love Of My Life - Queen)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ETENrv8cnU (Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse) 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnboInNJzoE (The Game Of Love - Santana Ft. Michelle Branch

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXCKLJGLENs (Love Song - The Cure /Robert Smith)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6vsHF3E9NU (True Love - Pink)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0 (Someone Like One - Adele)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irw3IbjP3vQ (Learn To Love Again - Lawson)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loWXMtjUZWM (I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHXOQFJCtvc (In My Dreams - REO Speedwagon) 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAI0ZixbKX4 (Still Loving You - Scorpions)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8MIp2FOhc (I'll Be There For You - Bon Jovi) 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgT_mJXbvCQ (Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon) 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMD8hBsA-RI (Faithfully - Journey)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg (Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okXDcAOpM3A (Sweet Dreams - Air Supply) 
(Remarks: Due to unknown reasons if you are unable to have direct access from the links, just highlight the link, right click and go to:)
So this Valentine's Day and Yuan Xiao, you can give these songs to your loved one: Are you "Ready For Love"? Because "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Love Is All Around". You are the "Love Of My Life" and the "Love Of My Lifetime". We are in "The Game Of Love", so I offer you a "Love Song' because you are my "True Love". I will never find "Someone Like You", who taught me to "Learn To Love Again". And "I Want To Know What Love Is" and see you "In My Dreams". I am "Still Loving You" and "I'll Be There For You" and "Keep On Loving You". 

"Faithfully". In our "Sweet Dreams".
"Sweet Dreams".

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