Letter from the Editor: The exact history of Saint Valentine, a Roman priest who supposedly performed secret ceremonies for Christians, has a tricky legacy of origin. Identifying his story's relevance in the celebration of the namesake day, however, is a much simpler task. Among some conflicting stories of his varying services of good will, one theme is perennial: the importance of celebrating love. This year’s Valentine’s day, as with all our beloved rituals pre-COVID, will be marked by its unique approach to this centuries-old holiday. People globally (except, perhaps, in New Zealand) will be encouraged to distance from each other, rather than embrace and touch, in strange dissonance to the lineage of a day where physical and emotional intimacy are (usually) a priority. This issue therefore seeks to encourage a celebration of love beyond traditional romantic or physical boundaries, as moments of affection feel increasingly rare to us all. February 14th will represent the passing of just another day in lockdown for many; some might even welcome a break from the increasingly commercialised nature of modern celebrations of Valentine's Day. Here at TN2, however, we hope to offer you a Valentine’s issue that eschews the expectations of this day's traditions, and instead simply embraces the idea that at the moment, in whatever form it may take, we could all do with a little bit more love in our lives. In light of threats of loss or separation, we begin to truly appreciate how precious the people we have to love really are. Our Valentine's cover is a special homage to the concept of celebrating love, created as a collaboration between a couple: the art is produced by Chloé Mant, and the photography by Éadaoin Fagan. Some written spotlights of this issue are: a guide to identifying your love language, a list of the best and worst boyfriends in TV history, and tips on nurturing friendships from a distance. I’d once again like to thank the TN2 staff who have dedicated themselves to this issue, and have worked diligently in spite of the ever-looming dark cloud that is this pandemic. Lá Fhéile Vailintín Faoi Mhaise Duit! Stay safe. Yours sincerely, Ursula
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