On 14 February, Cambodia will celebrate the Valentine’s Day, also known as the ‘Fête des Amoureux’ in French.
For most couples, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. It’s a day when people offer a rose, a piece of jewelry or any other gift to prove their love for their loved one. It’s also a celebration increasingly celebrated in restaurants, over a romantic dinner. It is celebrated all over the world, in Asia and of course in Cambodia.
Origins
The historical figure behind Lovers’ Day, Valentine of Terni, lived in the 3rd century AD and worked as a clandestine priest, illegally blessing marriages. It led to his imprisonment under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. He was executed by beheading in 272, although the exact date of his death is uncertain. However, it is known that it was on 14 February.
At the same time, the Romans celebrated Lupercus, the god of fertility, on 15 February. These pagan festivals, known as Lupercalia, featured animal sacrifices and dances in which half-naked men whipped women’s bellies, symbolizing their fertility. These customs were considered licentious but were tolerated by the early Christians.
Gelasius I
However, a significant shift occurred with the election of Gelasius I, a pious reformer and Berber pope, as the head of the Catholic Church in 492. Gelasius sought to establish a code of conduct, thereby prohibiting all Christians from participating in these practices.
In 494, he established a purification festival to compete with the Lupercalia. The ‘Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin’ was held on 2 February. The Romans traversed the city with prudence, their steps guided by the luminous glow of torches and candles. This celebration led to the establishment of another renowned festival: Candlemas.
To celebrate a saint
Nevertheless, this did not deter the Romans from continuing to participate in the Lupercalia. In an effort to create a diversion, Gelasius I decided to celebrate a saint on the eve of this pagan festival to absorb them into the Christian religion while correcting them. The designated saint was Valentinus of Terni, who perished on 14 February.
However, this initiative proved unsuccessful, and the Romans appropriated the figure of Saint Valentine for their own celebration. It coincided on the 14th of February and was marked by licentious festivities. Love lotteries were organized, and the lovebirds were nicknamed Valentin and Valentine.
Valentine’s Day in the Middle Ages
Nevertheless, it was not until a millennium later that Saint Valentine was officially designated as the patron saint of lovers, under the pontificate of Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia.
Legend holds that the imprisoned priest fell victim to the charms of the beautiful eyes of his jailer’s daughter. It is said that the blind girl miraculously regained her sight through love. According to legend, the condemned man is said to have written his sweetheart a farewell letter signed ‘Valentin’ before his death.
In the Middle Ages, at grand banqueting events, young men would engage in the ritualized practice of drawing lots among the female attendees to select a partner for the evening.
Valentinages
The tradition of ‘Valentinage’ involves the pairing of a young girl with a man for a day, during which they are expected to exchange gifts and compose poems as expressions of their affection for each other.
This tradition has been suggested as having provided inspiration for Charles d’Orléans, progenitor of future Louis XII, during his period of captivity in London subsequent to the Battle of Azincourt. On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, the prince, who also pursued a career as a poet, is said to have composed a poem for his wife, Bonne d’Armagnac, who had remained in France. This event is therefore recognized as the first documented instance of a card being sent to a significant other on the occasion of Lovers’ Day.
The end of the religious festival in the 20th century
The present-day celebration of Valentine’s Day has its origins in the United States of America. The tradition initially took the form of the sale of cards that were reminiscent of the small notes exchanged between a Valentine and his sweetheart, thereby democratizing this celebration of love. As the 20th century progressed, the religious aspect of this tradition waned, eventually leading to the complete paganization of Valentine’s Day. In 1969, Pope Paul VI removed it from the Roman liturgical calendar.
>The festival has evolved significantly from its origins as a celebration of the Roman deity Lupercus or the ‘Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin’ and has come to represent a celebration of love and, more specifically, of couples.
Today
In contemporary society, Valentine’s Day has come to be regarded as a celebration of love. In Europe, the most prevalent expressions of affection on this day include the bestowal of gifts, the presentation of floral arrangements such as roses, the exchange of affectionate words, and the enjoyment of a shared meal in a restaurant. Lover’s notes, letters, and emails also feature in the display of romance.
Valentine’s Day around the world
The celebration of Valentine’s Day varies significantly across the globe. In Asia, the popularity of Valentine’s Day is increasing annually. In China, for instance, the traditional lovers’ festival known as Qixi has been gradually superseded by Valentine’s Day since the 1980s. This celebration of lovers was introduced to Japan by chocolate manufacturers in the late 1950s. This commercial festival is characterized by women offering chocolates to their loved ones on 14 February each year.
Cambodia will celebrate the Valentine’s Day, also known as the ‘Fête des Amoureux’
In recent years, the Cambodian Ministry of Education has repeatedly issued warnings to young people on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, considering that this Western custom could exert a culturally damaging influence that could lead to sentimental dramas and related phenomena. The ministry emphasized that Valentine’s Day does not align with traditional Khmer values. In the contemporary context, a notable degree of flexibility has emerged, with Valentine’s Day in Cambodia assuming the character of an occasion for social engagement, and for the most enthusiastic, a stage for the declaration or confirmation of mutual love.
Cambodian feelings
Somaly, a young executive in a recruitment company, states: “Valentine’s Day… (laughs). Westerners and more and more people around the world associate this celebration with romance. My boyfriend is aware that I would like some flowers, a gift or a nice romantic diner. In the event of warnings, individuals must decide whether they wish to maintain a strictly traditional relationship or adopt a more liberal one. In the latter case, discretion is paramount in public.”
Settha, aged 40, from Kampong Cham and a senior executive in a French company, says: “I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day as it is not a traditional Cambodian holiday. Conversely, if two young Cambodians a committed relationship choose to have dinner together, this is acceptable.”
Daneth, a 23-year-old from Kandal, expressed a similar perspective, says, “It is a Western festival, and it does not align with my cultural values. Moreover, I perceive many young Cambodians to celebrate their love far too early, which I consider to be detrimental.”
While some express a conservatism, to date, many tend to demonstrate greater tolerance, particularly towards their daughters. Srey Mom, for instance, does not allow her daughter to go out without a chaperone on this occasion. Srey Thi and her husband acknowledge that times are changing and that a greater degree of freedom is becoming the norm. They are willing to allow their daughter some personal autonomy, but within certain limits.
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