Welcome to February
Yesterday, February 1st, marked the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. This day, known as Imbolc, is an ancient Celtic festival that encourages us to honour the natural cycles of the earth and embrace the slow transition from winter to spring.
Here in the South of the UK, today is cold yet sunny—a perfect blend of winter’s lingering chill with the promise of spring just around the corner.
February is often associated with love and romance, thanks to Valentine’s Day on February 14th, a day supposedly dedicated to celebrating lovers. However, in my opinion, Valentine’s Day has become a heavily commercialised holiday designed to sell cards, flowers, and chocolates. Having worked in the hospitality industry in my late teens and early 20s, my husband and I quickly became disillusioned with the pressure and commercialisation of this day, choosing instead to celebrate love in our own way, throughout the year.
But where did Valentine’s Day originate, and how did it become associated with romance?
Before Valentine’s Day as we know it, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia between February 13th and 15th. This was a wild, often violent, and sexually charged festival featuring animal sacrifices, random matchmaking, and rituals aimed at warding off evil spirits and infertility.
Legend has it that Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, persuaded the Roman Emperor to abandon Pagan Gods in favour of Christianity, leading to Lupercalia being replaced with a day honoring St. Valentine on February 14th. However, it wasn’t until much later that this day became linked to romantic love.
The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer played a key role in associating Valentine’s Day with romance. In his 1381 poem The Parlement of Foules, he wrote:
“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s Day
When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”
This romantic theme was later embraced by Charles, Duke of Orleans, who wrote the first known “Valentine” letter to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. His love letter, now housed in the British Museum, further solidified February 14th as a day for lovers.
Interestingly, the name “Valentine” originates from the Latin word meaning strong, powerful, or worthy—qualities that, in my opinion, would be a much more meaningful theme for February. In today’s world, where love is often publicly displayed and measured, Valentine’s Day can make those who are single or struggling feel unworthy. Instead of focusing on external validation, why not shift the focus inward?
A New Theme for February: Self-Love
If, like me, you don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, consider making February a month to honor yourself—your strength, power, and worth. Self-love is not about selfishness or arrogance; it’s about recognising your own value and treating yourself with the kindness and care you deserve. After all, you are the one person you will spend your entire life with—why shouldn’t you love yourself deeply?
This February, let’s reconnect with the unbreakable foundation of love within us. When we nurture our own wellbeing, we naturally have more to give to others.
“Your task is not to seek love, but to find and remove all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” — Rumi
Practical Ways to Show Yourself Love
Self-care and self-love go far beyond bubble baths and face masks. While those can be enjoyable, true self-love involves taking actions that improve your wellbeing and bring peace to your life. Here are some ideas to help you embrace self-love this month:
- Prioritise Your Health: Have you been putting off that doctor’s, dentist’s, or optician’s appointment? Show yourself love by booking it today.
- Declutter Your Space: Is there an area of your home that irritates you every time you pass by it—like that overflowing junk drawer or the cluttered cupboard under the stairs? Take some time to organize it.
- Set Boundaries: Is someone in your life overstepping your boundaries and making you feel uncomfortable? Have a conversation to address it.
- Hydrate & Nourish Yourself: As part of my self-care routine this month, I’m participating in the Tropic Hydration Challenge led by Michelle at Tranquility Holistic. Small steps like drinking more water and eating nourishing foods can make a big difference in how we feel.
This February, let’s celebrate ourselves. Let’s embrace our strength, our worth, and our power. Because the more we love and care for ourselves, the more love we have to share with the world.