February 14th every year is celebrated globally as lovers day.
The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love
flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers,
offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-
shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day,or the Feast of Saint Valentine is observed on February 14 each year. It is
celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.
St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular martyrology
associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for
ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her. Today, Saint Valentine's Day
is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint
Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6th and July 30th.
The concept of love and sharing is not restricted to only Western philosophy. It existed long in other societies but today its appreciation is
limited to modern western civilisation based on religious affinity. Since christianity came alongside with western civilisation, ignorance of
African Scholars about its origin is permissible. In its natural form love, care and sharing known as Valentine today is a religious evolution. It is not a monopoly of any specific religion.
Valentine has developed into a day where love as emotional instinct is expressed publicly. Secret admirers exploit the day to convey state
of minds and feelings towards each other, especially opposite sexes. It can be argued that Valentine is a day to over come every social
restraints by sending gifts and messages to love ones including un expressed lovers.
In is established that this concept is well advanced in the culture of tarok people in Plateau of North Central Nigeria before the advent of
Western traditions. Valentine is known as Nkpang Izem. It is celebrated annually during the festival of Nche Orim which is a major Masquerade festival. This festival is very significant in the traditions and culture of tarok people.
It has no fixed date but fixed period of farming season which varies with clans and sub clans of tarok. While the Selyir Clan celebrates their
Nche Orim during non farming season of March to May, the Gunnung of plain tarok observed their own from June to September. For the
Iwan of Hill tarok, the festival period is October to November.
During this festival the Orim will visit every compound of adherents and demand that unmarried ladies disclose their lovers. This has to do
with an un expressed admirer where no gesture has been exchanged. The lady through her mother or female guidian mention the name of her secret lover then its communicated to the Orim masquerade who in turn make it public. If the figure mentioned by the lady is very
popular within the community then Orim will immediately couched a song with his name. The lover mentioned now is required to bring gifts
but the different here is not to the lady but to Orim bearers.
The joy and satisfaction accompanying such declaration is usually unprecedented amongst the lovers and the community in general.
Subsequently, the man will send personal gifts to the lady who will accept and present same to her mother. This follow up creates a dating
relationship which ultimately terminates in marriage. Although the practice may differs but the intention of the concept is unanimous. While Valentine of today revolves around show of love to all, in practice it is mostly dominated by moral perversion which creates more pains
thereafter instead of joy. However, tarok traditional valentine encourages the evolution of family units through a carefully supervised
process.
The western tradition of Valentine can best be described as day of legitimate immorality where sexual pervasion is licensed. Human
relationship is brought under intense economic strain just to meet emotional budgets. Secret lovers will be unmasked through wonderful
presentation of gifts. So many relationships will emerge but will not survive the next Valentine because it originated on biased emotional foundations.
In all the tarok concept stands taller compared to contemporary practices of Valentine because of its ultimate utility value which is
contributes positively to social advancement.
As the world celebrate Valentine, I challenge all to unveiled secret relationships that will benefit humanity any thing on the contrary reduces
its intent to mere immoral jamboree.
Who is my secret lover, disclose it today.
Happy Valentine
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