Pearl Kyaw 11 - Human Connection
Valentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 14, is typically seen as the commemoration of romantic love. However, it is really just a day to celebrate human love and affection, as well as to connect with loved ones. The origin behind Valentine’s Day is not entirely certain, however, all of these theories connect back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in honor of the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. This festival promoted health and fertility, celebrated by sacrificing many animals in a brutal and bloody way (hence where the romanticization of the colour red came from), as well as pairing people together. It was later rebranded for one St. Valentine, whose identity is not entirely certain–whether he may have been a priest, an executed martyr, or otherwise. It was not exactly the holiday we know it as it is now.
In any case, no matter how it began, Valentine’s Day in the present is a worldwide celebration of love. It is often spent by sending cards to loved ones, giving gifts to loved ones, and spending time with said loved ones in general. After all, what way is better to spend a day centered around love than with the people you love?
Human connection became integrated into our evolutionary history as a survival trait after reinforcing the idea of having “strength in numbers.” Humans as a species were able to survive as a result of interacting with other humans in order to protect one another from predators, share valuable resources, and generally increase chances of survival overall. Even more so, research has shown that children who were touch-starved as infants had slower cognitive development in functions such as beginning to walk, crying less, or strengthening their immune systems. Studies have also shown that people who live out their lives isolated from the rest of society were 75% more likely to die earlier than those who didn’t isolate themselves. This puts a new perspective on the fearful saying of “dying alone.”
The bottom line being, humans need each other. Connecting with others fulfills the sense of belonging everyone feels the need to have, and having a support system in general is essential to overcoming challenges and living a healthy life. In other words, friendship really is magic. Being able to connect with others and maintain that connection is such an important ability. The power to love others and be loved in return isn’t something to be taken for granted. Beyond any evolutionary or cognitive need, having good relationships is just crucial in every way.
My love for my family creates strong familial bonds and a healthy home life. My love for my friends gives me a good support system to fall back on and people to share my life with. This connection I have worked hard to foster goes further than any surface level conversation or interaction for the sake of interacting. It comes down to being able to be in the same room as my friends and being happy that they’re just there, or thinking of each other upon seeing something that reminds one of the other, making silly gifts, and talking for hours about various topics before realizing that it had been hours since the conversation began. It ultimately comes down to all of the little things that make life worth living.
This Valentine’s Day, I’ll definitely reconnect with my platonic sweethearts and let them know how much I love them!
Hi Pearl! I really liked the way you started off your blog by first explaining how Valentine’s Day first came to be. It was really interesting to learn about its history and how it evolved into the widely known holiday that is celebrated happily each year. The evolution of people and our relationship with each other was also very cool to learn about. In the thick of it all, I believe that it’s very important to learn about how human relationships with one another have evolved over time and so has our way of expressing it each other. It is no longer a need as a result of survival but a want for others. I think the overall historical aspect of Valentine’s Day that you have brought into your blog was very interesting to read about and made me realize just how important it is too. Knowing its roots and more on how people work was very fascinating. I hope to hear more from you and hope I work with you more this school year!
ReplyDeleteHi Pearl, I really enjoyed reading your blog and learning about the historical origins of Valentine's Day. The way you talked about transformation from an ancient Roman festival to a modern celebration of love was amazing and fantastic. I especially liked how you connected human relationships to our evolutionary history showing how deep our needs for connection really are. The point about love not just being a necessity for survival but also a fundamental part of our life to fulfill really stood out to me. The way you describe the little movements like just being in the presence of loved ones, making silly gifts, and having long conversations felt so relatable and heartfelt. This blog really made me appreciate the friendships and bonds I have in my own life. Thank you for such a thoughtful and insightful understanding on Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteHi Pearl, this was a really unique approach to talking about Valentine's Day which most people only think of as a day of celebrating your significant others. Learning the history behind Valentine's Day revealed its much deeper importance and significance. I agree with your statement that Valentine's Day is actually about celebrating human love and affection, especially through cards that you can give your friends and family. I remember how in elementary school everyone would make 30 cards to give to all the other students so that no one feels left out and this is honestly a great representation of how Valentine's Day is for everyone not just couples. Even my own family celebrates it this way. While everyone else's parents went out alone for a Valentine's Day date, my parents planned a family dinner so that we could all spend the day together. Overall, I appreciate the facts and stories you presented to provide a new perspective on Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteHi Pearl! As soon as I started reading your post, I was completely drawn in by how seamlessly you connected history, culture, and personal insight. Your writing is so engaging, and I love how you took a topic that seems straightforward on the surface and peeled back the layers to reveal something so much deeper. One part that really stuck with me was when you talked about how human connection is deeply ingrained in our evolutionary history—how “strength in numbers” was key to survival and how isolation has real, measurable effects on people’s well-being. I had never thought about Valentine’s Day in that way before, but now it makes so much sense. It’s not just about romance; it’s about the fundamental human need for connection, love, and support. The way you tied this idea into studies about social bonds and their effects on health was super insightful and made me reflect on how important it is to nurture our relationships. It also got me thinking about my own perspective on Valentine’s Day. I’ve always believed that it’s more than just a day for romantic couples—it’s a celebration of love in all forms. Whether it’s family, friends, or even just appreciating the people who make life meaningful, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to remind those around us that they matter. Your post really reinforced that for me, especially with your emphasis on how the little things—spending time together, making silly gifts, or simply thinking of each other—are what truly make life special.
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