02/14/2022
The newsletter to fuel — and thrill — your mind. Read for deep dives into the unmissable ideas and topics shaping our world.
Feb 14, 2022 TODAY
Maybe you’ve got it all figured out, but if not it’s probably too late to remind you to pick up roses and a card on the way home today – a day on which the citizens of the world celebrate love and companionship. But why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? What’s so significant about February 14? What does it mean to celebrate a partner? In today’s Daily Dose, we explore Valentine’s Day traditions and cultural significance, some of the latest love lore in media, and a glimpse into the state of relationships today. Read on for a composite collection covering matters of the heart.
SYMBOLS OF LOVE
1 - Cocoa and Bouquets
While chocolate may not be an aphrodisiac as often suggested, the union between love and chocolate began with the Mayan traditions around 2500 years ago. An early iteration of what we now enjoy as hot chocolate was an important element of wedding rituals. But you can’t just just gift chocolate alone - enter the rose. The association between roses and love has bloomed since ancient Greek times, but it wasn’t until 19th century London that flower sales really flourished. This was largely due to the growing popularity of assigning meanings to different flowers. Red roses in particular, the “gold standard” of Valentine’s Day flowers, came to represent love and luxury due to the high price of red dye.
2 - History of Valentine’s Day
The origins of Valentine’s Day are rooted in an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia honoring Juno, the goddess of marriage. Various rituals, including those of animal sacrifice and ceremony, were practiced with the belief they would improve fertility and virility. Before the ascension of Christianity in Rome, a priest named Valentine was performing illicit ceremonies to wed Christian couples; he was reportedly executed on February 14 in the year 289. After Christianity was widely adopted, the familiar Lupercalia and its associated themes of marriage and romance made it a prime candidate for Saint Valentine’s Day.
3 - Who is Cupid?
We’ve all seen the familiar image of a winged baby wielding his bow and arrow, but what is the significance of Cupid? Before the Romans adopted his mythical story, Cupid was found in ancient Greek mythology under the name Eros, essentially a god of love and lust. Eros’ quiver held both golden and lead arrows – the golden arrows filled its targets with unencumbered desire while the lead arrows subjected its targets to absolute revulsion. As time bore on, Cupid was increasingly seen as a playful and mischievous child, and because of his affiliation with love and marriage, he has become an effective mascot for Valentine’s Day.
LOVE ON SCREEN
1 - Marry Me
If there’s one celebrity whose on-screen romances are as fun to watch as their off-screen ones, it’s Jennifer Lopez. The reigning queen of romantic comedies is back with a new film called Marry Me, which released last Friday in theaters and is streaming on the Peacock app. In the film, JLo plays a pop star who, after learning about her fiance’s infidelity, decides to marry a stranger (Owen Wilson) from the crowd at one of her concerts. In true JLo rom-com fashion, shenanigans ensue as the pair get to know one another and become immersed in each other’s lives. If you prefer real-life romance to fiction, there’s Bennifer.
2 - Starstruck (show)
One of the most unexpected rom-coms of 2021 came in the form of the hilariously heartwarming TV show Starstruck. The premise of the show is a familiar one: a common person and a famous actor have a meet-cute and fall for each other (hello Notting Hill!). What isn’t familiar about the show is the laugh out loud style of comedy from newcomer Rose Matafeo who not only is Starstruck’s leading lady but also one of its key writers. Born and raised in New Zealand, Matafeo’s physical comedy and quirky wit makes her one to watch. Luckily, fans are getting a season 2 soon. Starstruck is streaming now on HBOMax.
3 - I Want You Back
Just in time for Valentine’s day, comedy powerhouses Charlie Day and Jenny Slate united to bring us last week’s I Want You Back. Written by two of the showrunners behind This is Us, the film follows the antics of Peter (Day) and Emma (Slate), each of whom was unexpectedly dumped from their respective long-term relationships. After their paths fatefully cross, they discover their shared plight and conspire to reclaim their former partners by sabotaging and manipulating their new relationships.
RELATIONSHIPS TODAY
1 - Politics in Relationships
As the saying goes, opposites attract. But today’s common dating strategies tend to shy away from that timeless idiom, and it may be hurting us. Research has shown that over the past quarter century, the proportion of married people in their 20s has declined from 27% to just 15%. Some have concluded that their pursuit of companionship is a lost cause, but perhaps it is the approach to finding a partner that is misguided. In today’s dynamic world of apps and connections, daters tend to seek out characteristics in partners that are most similar to them, maybe it’s time to seek out complementarity?
2 - Talk It Out
The ultimate rule in relationships is that strong communication is utterly essential. Without it, expectations don’t match up, priorities vary, and relationships flounder. Especially in a society fraught with distractions – one where we’re perpetually tuned into one screen or another and viewing the world through an idealized lens, messaging is often lost. Diving below the surface and connecting meaningfully is an effective way to learn who someone is – whether that’s a romantic partner, colleague, or stranger – as well as helping overcome personal challenges and improve overall communication skills.
3 - Love Yourself
In recent years, one relationship structure that has garnered a lot of attention is that of sologamy, or self-marriage. This structure is an exercise in intentional independence and bolstered self-esteem; it is a celebration of oneself as the most important person in her own life. While one’s commitment to self is certainly of great importance, what happens if you meet someone else? That’s precisely the predicament that Cris Galêra found herself in after marrying herself in a sologamous wedding last September– she made the decision to terminate her self-marriage after entering a relationship with someone else.
Credit: www.ozy.com /
Torn From Her Arms is based on a true story, originally covered by the OZY editorial team. Amidst the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border, the timely film depicts the harrowing true story of a mother and daughter who must find their way back to each other after being separated.
