I’ve never really understood Valentine’s Day. It strikes me as being some weird, commercialised festival, that’s completely divorced from reality… no pun intended.
Though I suppose if you’re a sun sign astrologer it’s always a good excuse to wheel out your astrology and love predictions. And who knows, your romance phone lines might get a few more callers than usual.
From my cynical perspective, there’s no particular reason why February 14 should bring romantic success, though on this year’s Valentine’s Day I do believe that love matters can prosper. Not because the day itself is special, but because there’s a fortunate conjunction between the Moon and Venus, in Pisces.
If we look at Valentine’s Day historically, it’s often associated with violence, war, death and disaster. In fact the complete opposite of the popular image.
On February 14 1879 a war started between Bolivia and Chile.
On February 14 1919 a war started between Poland and the Soviet Union (see the picture accompanying this article, which shows Polish soldiers defending their positions in 1920).
On February 14 1929 the famous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place, in Chicago. It was probably organised by Al Capone, and seven people were killed.
On February 14 1945, at the very end of the Second World War, the bombing of the German town of Dresden started. As a result of this bombing campaign, by the British and US air forces, at least eighteen thousand people were killed.
On February 14 1981 there was a fire in a Dublin nightclub. There were forty-eight deaths.
On February 14 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini issued a Fatwa against Salman Rushdie, for his writing of The Satanic Verses.
On February 14 1990 there was an air crash in India. Ninety-two deaths.
On February 14 2004 a roof collapsed at a water park in Moscow. Twenty-five deaths.
On February 14 2005 there was a huge bomb explosion in Beirut. Twenty-two deaths. On the same day there was another bombing, in the Philippines, killing seven people.
On February 14 2008 there was a university shooting in Illinois. Six deaths.
Have a great day!
Copyright © 2010 Archie Dunlop
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