WHAT IS ROMANCE?
Gill Sherry
As February 14th approaches, we’re reminded of the religious and cultural significance of the third-century Roman, Saint Valentine. There are different beliefs when it comes to his origins but from what I understand, the famous saint was a priest from Rome.
Having recently visited Rome, I find it appropriate that Saint Valentine is associated with the so-called Eternal City. It is, after all, considered one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Interestingly, he was also the patron saint of beekeepers but is obviously more commonly known for his links to love and romance.
Nowadays, Saint Valentine’s Day has become a commercial celebration with people in the UK alone apparently forking out over £1.3 billion on cards, flowers, chocolates, jewellery and other romantic gestures. It’s a booming business which, along with other annual festivals such as Halloween and Christmas, now appears to focus on commercial extravagance more than the original intended sentiment.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a bit of romance. At least, I was until I read the official definition provided by the Oxford English Dictionary: a close usually short relationship of love between two people.
Usually short? That would suggest that romance doesn’t last, and that can’t be right, can it? I mean, after 32 years of marriage, Mr S still surprises me once in a while with a bunch of roses, or, better still, an impromptu trip in our campervan. And what’s more romantic than watching the sun go down, hand in hand, on a deserted beach… with a miniature dachshund curled up at your feet? Well, I can think of a few things but as Princess Diana once said, “There were three of us in this marriage” and our short-legged, long-bodied pooch is not one for missing out on things! But my point remains… romance doesn’t have to be short-lived.
There is, of course, another form of romance that doesn’t necessarily involve your partner. This ‘alternative’ form of romance can be defined as: the feeling of excitement or mystery that you have from a particular experience or event.
Now, that’s more like it! The romance of the FA Cup springs to mind. Every football fan knows what it’s like when their club is drawn against a much superior team. From the anticipation of the draw itself, to the thought of emerging victorious and forever being referred to as ‘giant killers’ (well, for one season, at least), it’s a romantic notion guaranteed to excite and unite many a hopeful fan.
Co-incidentally, the FA Cup has historically included fixtures on Saint Valentine’s Day. One particularly feisty contest between Manchester United and Manchester City in 2004 saw United defeat their local rivals 4-2 in a fifth-round match that appropriately included a red card. I wonder if Gary Neville received any other cards that day? I also wonder how many women (or men) were gifted a romantic weekend in Manchester, only to learn that a football match was involved? Because let’s not forget (according to a survey by Dr Adam Brown in 2002) only 29% of Manchester United fans and 40% of Manchester City fans, actually live in the city. Not that I’m in any position to criticise…
But back to romance! I stumbled across another definition which describes romance as: a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life. That’s something we can all relate to, isn’t it? Like it or not, life does tend to be a little predicable at times, so if we can throw a bit of variety or spontaneity into the mix, it can only be a good thing, right? Take a walk along the river and listen to the birdsong. Explore a new town or city. Watch a live band. Enjoy the thrill of a wild swim. The possibilities for romance are endless!
However you choose to define ‘romance’ I hope it continues beyond Saint Valentine’s Day, because far from being short-lived, romance can (and should) last a lifetime.
