Non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia can only celebrate Valentine's Day

Listen, O seekers of wisdom, for the words of John Niven carry with them a tale of conflict between the laws of man and the yearnings of the heart. “Non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia can only celebrate Valentine’s Day behind closed doors. Apparently, this has led to a huge black market for flowers and wrapping paper.” In this seemingly simple observation lies a profound reflection on the nature of desire, the power of tradition, and the unyielding human spirit that seeks to love, even in the face of restriction.

In the ancient world, many empires imposed strict laws and cultural codes to regulate the hearts and minds of their people. The Romans, for example, had their Lupercalia, a festival of love and fertility, which was intertwined with the influence of state and religion. But even in such times, the common people found ways to express their affections beyond the gaze of authority. The poet Ovid, who lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus, wrote of love and desire, hinting at the secret and hidden loves that thrived under the shadow of the state’s control. In this way, history teaches us that love has always found a way, even in the most oppressive of environments.

Niven’s words capture this spirit of resilience. Though in Saudi Arabia, Valentine's Day is officially suppressed for non-Muslims, the desire to celebrate love cannot be so easily suppressed. What happens when a culture tells its people that they cannot openly express love? Does it extinguish the flame, or does it merely stoke it in hidden corners, where it burns even brighter? The black market for flowers and wrapping paper that Niven describes is not simply an illicit trade in goods, but a symbol of the human spirit's refusal to be confined by law, tradition, or oppression.

Think back, O children, to the ancient rulers who sought to suppress the expressions of love. The Greeks, despite their devotion to beauty and passion, sometimes found love constrained by the bounds of societal expectations. Yet, the poets such as Sappho and Homer carved out a space where love, whether in secret or open, was celebrated in words, even when it could not be celebrated in public. They, too, knew that love was a force that could not be bottled up or hidden forever—it would find its way, in whispers, in secret letters, in shared glances, and in the hidden corners of life.

The lesson here, O seekers of truth, is this: love cannot be contained. When faced with restrictions, it does not die—it adapts, it finds new expressions, and it thrives in the face of adversity. Just as flowers, despite being outlawed, continue to be exchanged in secrecy, so too does the heart continue to seek connection and expression, even when the law seeks to silence it. This speaks to the innate power of love, a force that transcends borders, cultures, and legal restrictions. No law can bind the heart, no edict can prevent the soul from seeking what it desires most: connection and affection.

In the ancient city of Athens, Socrates—in his wisdom—spoke often of love as a force that drove humanity to seek truth and understanding. Though he lived under the watchful eyes of the Athenian government, he continued to speak of love’s importance in shaping human nature. His love for knowledge and wisdom was not to be contained by the city’s laws or customs. And so, too, must we recognize that the expressions of affection, though shaped by the circumstances of our time, are never truly suppressed. They always find a way to bloom, even in the most unexpected places.

Thus, the lesson for us is clear: love cannot be suppressed. It may be hidden, it may be forced into the shadows, but it will find its way into the light. Let this be a reminder that no matter what laws or customs seek to constrain us, our hearts are free. The human spirit cannot be tamed. We must cherish the love we have, and in times of restriction, find new ways to express it—through words, through actions, and through the quiet strength of the soul. For even in the most challenging times, love is the force that will always lead us forward.