Valentine’s Day. A tradition that has been around for more than 1500 years. The first time Valentine’s Day was ever mentioned was in 496 CE, as it originated from a Roman celebration known as Lupercalia. But although this festival originally represented the start of spring, today it means something entirely different, and acts as a celebration of friendship, romance, and love in many areas of the world. For each person, this occasion has a distinct definition. For some, it means giving friends gifts and spending time with them. For others, it consists of having a Valentine with whom they can spend time throughout the day. But no matter what the true meaning of Valentine’s Day is, everybody has a great time, and that includes the members of the ASB community. And here at the school, the Student Council has been working hard to make sure everybody enjoys the 14th of February of 2023!
The celebratory items that the StuCo offered students and teachers this February 14th are Candygrams. This gift, which could be purchased for friends or oneself, consisted of a note and a pack of Haribo bears, and the additional rose Candygrams included a rose, a lollipop, and a note. Another type of presents that high schoolers could buy were mystery Candygrams, where recipients would be randomly paired up with each other, and would then receive handwritten notes. Several students participated in this activity, and interacted with people they would otherwise probably never speak to. Sales started on the third of February, more than a week before Valentine’s Day, and students purchased these small gifts for their friends and classmates up until February 13th. “I think it’s really cool how we can buy our friends gifts to show that we are grateful for them,” an excited high schooler commented. On Valentine’s Day, Student Council members went around the high school classrooms delivering the Candygrams and even reading some of the notes out loud, as requested. Overall, the ASB community definitely loved this tradition, and many really enjoyed the process of writing notes for their friends and spending time with them.
The Valentine’s Day celebrations at ASB also formed part of the Spirit Week which StuCo organized from the 13th to the 17th of February. Every day, students at ASB dressed up according to a certain theme. On Monday, the first day of spirit week, high schoolers wore their pajamas to school, with many teenagers wearing pajama pants or shirts. On Tuesday, the theme was Valentine’s Day, when students wore red, pink, and white clothing items to school. The next day, on Wednesday, teens had to get creative for “Anything but a backpack day.” Throwback Thursday was celebrated by students who wore clothes from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. And, finally, on Friday, the theme was “Carnival,” and high school students were able to dress up in festive outfits and costumes. Overall, both the Spirit Week and Valentine’s Day were successful celebrations that the ASB community wholeheartedly enjoyed.
Bibliography:
“What Is Valentine’s Day and How Did It Start? – CBBC Newsround.” Www.bbc.co.uk, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16945378#:~:text=The%20first%20Valentine.
Davies, Anna. “The History of Valentine’s Day and Why We Celebrate.” Real Simple, Real Simple, 20 Dec. 2017, www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day.
And the PA decorated the school for the occasion, as well as provided free heart-shaped lollipops to all students!