valentines day

the kids are so excited about valentines day. they don't quite understand the distinction between holidays and birthdays, and i don't have any idea how to explain that in a manner that makes any sense. secular holidays seem like some kind of insanity or just an excuse to have a party with a theme that everyone knows. religious holidays require a religion. i guess i could look into one of those for some explination. being a pretty horrible catholic, i have no idea what the church says about saint valentine, or his day, but i can look it up... well, well, saint valentine was martyred for being christian in carthage around 400ad, and chaucer linked him to birds choosing mates in mid february in a poem and now we all give eachother chocolate in heart shapes.... yeah, that's sane.