Valentine’s Day is perceived in different ways, and while for some it is a celebration of love, for others it is something to abstain from. For Pastor Rosine Ingabire, Valentine’s Day is a representation of promiscuity that dates back to the pre-bible era, a stance she supports by exemplifying a scenario in the past that involved using sacrificial blood as face cream and blending it with milk, after which the community would engage in fornication that has the makings of an orgy, which according to her is one of the red flags associated with the momentous occasion. Furthermore she unromanticized the popular narrative of the Saint Valentine, a priest who consistently officiated weddings despite it being a time when the ruling king prohibited the youth from getting married, preferring they go to war in service of their country/kingdom instead. She associates the celebration of the occasion as an act of defiance to God, because it is a ritual meant for the worship of other gods, which she justifies with a passage from Deuteronomy 12 that foreshadows consequences. The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. Ingabire strongly urges Christians especially the youth not to act in accordance with a day that promotes promiscuous acts, which she follows with emphasis on the notion that couples need to base the solidity of their marriage or relationship on what the Lord says rather than associate it in any way with Valentine’s Day. Contrary to what Ingabire believes to be a fact, there’s another side to this coin. From where Reverend Antoine Rutayisire stands, there’s nothing wrong with Christians participating in and celebrating Valentine’s Day. According to him, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the holidays themselves, but the people that corrupt them. Rutayisire lamented about how absurd it is that the Christmas season has been transformed into a shopping spree, rather than a mere celebration of the birth of Christ. In regards to Valentine’s Day being an object of evil, the reverend is of the view that “fornicators are active every other day and Valentine’s Day won’t change a thing.” Furthermore, Reverend Rutayisire shared that Valentine’s is meant for the celebration of love and not that of fornication, thereafter calling upon those intent on celebrating to make sure their bond is founded on genuine love. To the Islam community, the holiday is of catholic origin which by default positions it at odds with Islamic values. Naswiru Shema, currently serving as executive director of the Peace and Love Proclaimers, is of the view that the essence of Valentine’s Day has been a debate among the Islamic community but despite the notion that it may or may not be against standing religious values, the choice of perception is ultimately a personal one. “In Islam we believe that humans were created with a choice, meaning each person is free to form their own opinion and make their own decision on the issue. Allah is the only judge” he says. Despite the differences between the different religions, the similarity they share is their skepticism towards Valentine’s Day.
