Happy Single's Awareness Day

Seeing as I created this blog on Valentine's Day, I might as well begin with the theme of the day, Captain James Cook's murder on the island of Hawai'i in 1779.

As many may know, though, today holds significance for love and appreciation of the partner you have in your life. A day for them and them alone. But to my surprise, I had two threads on my social media platforms. One about love, and the other about his murder.

Let's start with what today is most well-known for... Love.

A quick search of the hashtag #ValentinesDay on Instagram, and then a quick scroll through, showcased what I thought people would be posting today. Happy couples, hearts, gifts that were given, and the most associated flower of this day, the rose.

If this day were to have a mascot, though, I would associate, Cupid with that.

God of Love - Cupid: Source

His origins, however, stem from Greek mythology with his original Greek God counterpart - Eros: The God of Love & Sex. The offspring of Ares & Aphrodite he's best known with having wings and with shooting arrows, and as Cupid, he's known for all that, but also as a baby, or chubby, or both. (As pictured above.)

But when it comes to the namesake of today, I didn't realise the patron Saint had other associated titles to his name, nor did I know much about him.

Saint Valentine: Source

At his basic/well-known level: Saint Valentine was the patron Saint of Lovers. But did you know that he holds the associated titles of: beekeepers, epileptics, fainting, traveling, and the plague (so pray to him in regard to COVID-19.)

With these titles it becomes apparent that the Saint was a busy man back in his day. Thing is, he most likely was made of up over a dozen other Saint Valentine's amalgamated into the one we know today.

But with the date itself, it seems to be another Pagan holiday appropriated by the Catholic Church. Originally, a fertility ritual was held in the month of February, but it would take a few centuries later to name the date after Saint Valentine. The day itself is believed to come about by Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote the poem, Parliament of Foules, in 1375 with this date stated for romantic celebrations and is talks about the birds (as well as humans) looking for their mates. It's lengthy, but you can read the poem here.

(Quick sidenote: when I read that the poem talked about birds looking for mates and having previously read Saint Valentine being a patron St. of beekeepers I did look up 'The Birds and the Bees,' to see if they were connected and if that was there origin story, but apparently not. They're unrelated, but I may look into it at a later date. More info.)

Now, there's actually a few other days associated with the other Saint Valentine's. The next upcoming date is that from the Eastern Orthordox Church which celebrates this Saint Valentine twice: first in his older form on the 6th of July, and that of his Martyrdom on the 30th of July. The date between them belongs to the virgin Saint Valentina, who was also martyred on the 25th of July, 308CE in Palestine. The following is that of Saint Valentine of Viterbo on the 3rd of November, and the last has just past on the 7th of January with Saint Valentine of Raetia.

So, by association, in 2021, we have a Roman God who shots arrows in flight, featured on name date of amalgamated Saint Valentine's Saints. Both, in the name of love.

But that brings me to ... the murder of James Cook.

Attack on Cook and his men. Source.

As previously mentioned, on the 14th of January, 1779, Cook was murdered by the tribespeople on the island of Hawai'i at Kealakekua Bay, in his attempt to abduct the King of the island. With protest from the native people, Cook, his Corporal James Thomas, Private John Allen, Private Thomas Fatchett, and Private Theophilus Hinks, were all killed, as seen by a spyglass from his ship.

For many indigenous people, especially around the Pacific Ocean, Cook's death is celebrated as a triumph of native people over those who would colonise their lands due to his exploration. And to this day, the impact of Cook's work resonates in a detrimental and economical way.

I might go into more detail about Captain Cook and his impact on Australia, and the world. But to say, for today, that there's no love lost on his passing would be an accurate statement for some.

With Valentine's Day over in Australia, I bid the rest of the world a happy time with however you chose to celebrate it.

Until then,... Support&Stuff

Joel Peter B.

P.S. I just discovered the 15th of January is Singles Awareness Day. So, enjoy your S.A.D. folks.