What do you prefer to call it: Valentine's Day or Lover's day?

[jigSAW]

The connection between Valentine’s Day and religion might seem obvious — isn’t the day named after a Christian saint? duh! It's more than that. So got to hit some web pages to get specific story behind the Name....and
so...History Check:

Story:1 - Roman emperor Claudius II imposed a ban on marriages because too many young men were dodging the draft by getting married (only single men had to enter the army). A Christian priest named Valentinus ignored the ban and performed secret marriages. He was caught, of course, which meant that he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. While awaiting execution, young lovers visited him with notes about how much better love is than war — the first “valentines.” As you might have already guessed, the execution occurred in 269 CE on Februrary 14th, the Roman day dedicated to celebrating love and fertility.

Story:2 - Another Valentinus was a priest jailed for helping Christians. During his stay he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and sent her notes signed “from your Valentine.” He was eventually beheaded and buried on the Via Flaminia. Reportedly Pope Julius I built a basilica over his grave. A third and final Valentinius was the bishop of Terni and he was also martyred, with his relics being taken back to Terni. The pagan celebrations were reworked to fit the martyr theme — after all, early and medieval Christianity did not approve of rituals that encouraged sexuality. Instead of pulling girls’ names from boxes, it is believed that both boys and girls chose the names of martyred saints from a box. It wasn’t until the 14th century that customs returned to celebrations of love and life rather than faith and death.

...Today, capitalist commercialism is one of the biggest aspects of Valentine’s Day. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on chocolate, candies, flowers, dinners, hotel rooms, jewelry, and all sorts of other gifts and whatnot used to celebrate February 14th. There is a lot of money to be made from people’s desire to commemorate the date, and even more to be made in convincing people to employ any number of new means to celebrate.
(source: Ask.com)

Bangladesh Scenario:
Commercialization by means of celebrating and resulting flourishing business in 3rd world country. So what if the price of Rice and other day to day commodities are rising sharply everyday! We can still manage Tk. 50.00 to buy flowers and Tk. 45.00 for a CD and Tk. 25.00 for Card at least for our lovers / girl friends/ boy friends and say "I Love You". Yes! a Occasion would definitely turn the tune for perfect mood.

But, VALENTINES? Do we really need this title to let our loved one know that we love them? Or a simple "International Lover's Day" will suffice? No! No! and Again No if someone is thinking that I am trying to heat up for saying anything against any RELIGION. Not at all.

Let's share our thoughts on it...

[alana]

valentine's day sounds more sober then international lover's day to me. day

[Gemini]

I call it "Happy Baalentine day"...or when am feeling a bit more romantic - "Happy Hallmark day".
But...but...When am really feeling romantic and optimistic..I prefer to stick to "Happy Valentines Day"

[shmegel]

Kisu kisu jinish ase life a, jeigula amra change korte chaina because it is tradition. Valentine's Day naam ta sherokom ih I guess

[habijabi]

I prefer to call it 'The hahakar of the pocket day'

[dark_saint]

I guess international valentine day is for all ages of people ..not only for teenage ....................But , in Bangladesh , The teenagers are adhering the day as a special phenomenon.........

[jigSAW]

Originally Posted by dark_saint

But , in Bangladesh , The teenagers are adhering the day as a special phenomenon.........

Exactly!
As the 13th Feb has a significance for Young Teenagers for Bangladeshi Tradition, which is getting more and more attention as the year passing by, then the day after that could be a "hangover" and "continuation" to be like for the next day. e.g: Eid is celebrated for 3 days in Bangladesh, unlike other countries. My point is the spirit of festivity has to do something. Shafiq Rahman of "Jai Jai Din" was pointing to his effort of addressing teenagers to make a Bangla Version of it as "Bhalobasha Dibosh" since 1993 on a TV Interview on Channel-I. any thought on that?

I would definitely like to see more progressive response, rather than just answering "what", and make a more focus on "why" in the responses

[Tepantor]

Valentine day tai right
Lovers day ta kemon jani shosta shosta shunai

[Gemini]

Bd'r polapaner mone bohut prem....

[oYn]

I prefer "Valentines Day" instead of "Valentine's Day"

Gemini bd er polapain hocche asgol polapain, baki shob jaigar polapain bhua