It’s interesting to compare the characteristics of holidays and the characteristics of the sign in which they reside.

Major Holidays

Easter (late March, early April) is in the sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac representing beginnings. Easter, in fact, is a moving holiday that clearly follows the patterns in the sky for its date.

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is in the sign of emotional, watery Pisces. Green is the color of the heart chakra and represents emotional openness. Is it a wonder that this holiday is celebrated with alcohol?

Memorial Day (last Monday in May) is in the sign of Gemini, which is the sign of communication, short travels, neighbors and siblings. This holiday doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with Gemini. But I’m not sure what sign would work well for remembering the deceased of war.

Labor Day (first Monday in September) is in the sign of Virgo which rules health and work. September also happens to be the month when we return to school and finish those summer vacations.

Christmas (December 25), which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, occurs in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn represents status and worldly success and is ruled by Saturn. Saturn represents the limits of the three-dimensional world and rules duty, responsibility and Time.

Some holidays fit well with the sign, some, not so much. But the one holiday that seems really off the mark is Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day, February 14, is in the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius represents friendship and fraternal love, not romantic and passionate love. Aquarius is about ideals and is more comfortable in groups than one-on-one, more comfortable leading a revolution than a family.

Aquarius, being an air sign, is not physically passionate. When Venus or moon is in Aquarius, it gets a “cold fish” rating from astrologers (after Venus or moon in Capricorn).

For romantic and passionate love of the type found in date movies, look to Aquarius’ opposite sign, Leo.

The sun is in Leo from late July to mid-August. Leo rules the heart and is often seen as the actor of the zodiac for its need to be center of attention. Leo is romantic and loves children. This sign is expressive, bold, outgoing and proud. Leo is the one who dares to stand outside your window on a cold winter night serenading you, the one to buy you the biggest bunch of flowers in the store, the one to say “I love you” first.

Cupid shoots his arrow into the heart, which is where Leo lives. To make an impact on an Aquarius, Cupid would need to shoot between the eyes into the head as Aquarius is a mental sign.

Aquarius wants an ideological soul mate. Cupid would need to do some background checks and surveys, much like a dating service, to be of use to an Aquarian. Rather than allowing that arrow to pierce the heart, Aquarius is more likely to pull the arrow out and analyze it.

With that said, I think we should change Valentine’s Day to “Friendship Day” and move Valentine’s Day six months into the calendar to reside in Leo – August 14. In Leo, Valentine’s Day mythology would correspond to the correct energy pattern.

August could use a holiday. Why doesn’t it have one?

There is probably no holiday in August because we are busy attending Leo birthday parties. Leos must be the center of attention and statistically we probably all have a Leo in our lives. Therefore, our August schedules are full.

If Valentine’s Day is August 14, then the Leos who celebrate their birthdays around this time will be assured of some additional birthday loving.

All in favor, say “aye.” And make sure you cast your vote before Friendship Day.