ImagesBrighton pictures of the week 16-2-2004

IMAGESBRIGHTON photography by david gray
	V A L E N T I N E ' S D A Y
	P I C T U R E S O F T H E W E E K 1 6 - 2 - 2 0 0 4

Saint Valentine was a Christian priest in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Claudius and it must be an open question as to what he would now make of the day devoted to his name. On the other hand, Rome in 269AD was quite a party town (unless you were Christian) and Valentine must have seen a few things in his time. The connection between this martyred priest and romantic love is unclear, though it is said that he sent a note to his jailer's daughter that was signed "From your Valentine". The illustrations on many of today's Valentine cards are anything but romantic and the sexualisation of commerce is never more obvious than on February 14th. Retailers of everything from ginger biscuits to fetish clothing cover their windows with cupids and hearts, while florists charge as much for a dozen roses as you'd pay for a weekend in Paris. The price of love has never been higher. At least it's all over now until next year, but you can still see this week's set of pictures about Valentine's Day 2004 in Brighton and London.

Gingerbread men bought from a Brighton bakery in February 2004 (image 2488-107)

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