It’s Valentine’s Day, which means most of us will be surrounded by pink hearts, chocolate hearts, paper hearts… lots and lots of hearts! It also means a day to remember and show those we love how much we really care.
To this day there is still not one agreed upon origin of Valentine’s Day. Most will agree that Valentine’s Day originated in Ancient Rome, but the details surrounding the day vary from a Pagan fertility festival to stories of the Roman Emperor Claudius and his orders against marriage and a Christian priest named Valentine – a priest who was martyred on February 14th for performing secret marriages. Whether linked to fertility or the memory of St. Valentine, the core theme of Valentine’s Day is love.
Chocolate and hearts aside, sometimes as women, it is hard to love Valentine’s Day. As kids we welcome the holiday, but as we grow older, the pressure of having “A Valentine” begins to make Valentine’s Day a day we can’t wait to bypass. As women we play many roles throughout our lives – daughter, mother, wife, sister and friend and each role grants us new experiences, memories, challenges and sadly for some, heartache.
Over the last 15 years, Valentine’s Day has taken on new meaning as V-Day. V-Day was founded by playwright Eve Ensler, best known for the award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues. Each V-Day, cities around the world stage this empowering play raising awareness to the tragedy that is violence against women. And every year, Diva International supports V-Day community raffles, silent auctions and Vagina Monologue performances.
To celebrate V-Day is to join globally in a pursuit to end violence against women and girls by drawing awareness to the abusive reality many are forced to face and to raise funds to support services that seek to aid those affected.
As Divas we need to help narrate a new story for Valentine’s Day – V-Day. February 14th should be a day that celebrates women, reminds us to stand up for justice and a day for Divas to be empowered to be true to themselves and practice self-care.
But we need your help!
This V-Day, organizations like Amnesty International are joining the 1 Billion Rising campaign to bring awareness to the importance of V-Day and to allow communities to “WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence”. The funds and awareness raised through this campaign will go towards ending violence against women and girls worldwide.
And it’s not too late for you to personally join in the day’s events!
Attend one of hundreds of events that are happening this V-Day in your community by visiting the 1 Billion Rising events page (such as attending a staged performance of the Vagina Monologues, themed poetry slams, film festivals, yoga and belly dancing class or flash mobs).
Tell the Diva Community what you are going to do this V-Day to show your support for organizations that are providing care to women and girls who are victims of violence in your community.
Share the news of V-Day through your Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest profiles! The more women we can reach, the more women we can help.
Show the women in your life that you support and care for them by sending them Valentine’s Day cards!
