Year 24, Day 80
Binquaros
Rampant consumerism strikes again as the Bothan holiday Valenthyne’s Day gains traction upon the worlds of the Confederacy, especially on the planet Binquaros in the Ciutric sector. The rather unapologetically commercial celebration is a relatively new invention that arose on Bothawui about five decades ago, after well-orchestrated cultural propaganda saw a resurgence in the public’s interest in Bothan-related historical figures. One of these individuals was the illustrious half-Bothan Jedi Master Valenthyne Farfalla, who famously led the Army of Light alongside the legendary Jedi Lord Hoth against the Sith of the Brotherhood of Darkness roughly a millennium ago. As a result of the Bothan government’s efforts, popular culture on Bothawui created a plethora of romantic legends and tales surrounding Master Farfalla, which ultimately gave profit-driven corporations the perfect excuse to give shape to Valenthyne’s Day: a day which claims to celebrate romantic entanglements of all shapes and forms, and encourages would-be-lovers to confess their unspoken feelings for one another, all through the excessive expression of shameless materialism and unabashed commercialism.
Yet, as is often the case, stories have a tendency to veer away from their creator’s intent through the wishful imagination of its audience. So too did the tale of Master Farfalla came to be surrounded by myths that aided the proliferation of the commercial aspect of Valenthyne’s Day all too well. As such, our noble editorial has taken it upon itself to present you with a couple of facts and myths surrounding the increasingly popular celebration and its renowned patron.
Fact: Jedi Master Valenthyne Farfalla died a heroic death in a final confrontation between the Jedi and Sith on the Deep Core world of Tython more than a decade after the historic Battle of Ruusan. While this may not be entirely in line with the popular representation of Farfalla dying a martyr’s death while crying out the name of his unrequited love, the creative inspiration of the holovid makers behind “Your Valenthyne” could be explained away as simply “a certain point of view”.
Myth: Farfalla did not write a holo-letter confessing his long-cherished and secret love to Jedi Lord Hoth and signing it with “Your Valenthyne”, while imprisoned by the Brotherhood during the campaign on Ruusan. In fact, no historical evidence suggests that the Jedi Master was ever captured by enemy forces or that he harboured any romantic feelings for his fellow commander of the Army of Light. Nonetheless, this did not stop the makers of the widely popular holovid “Your Valenthyne” from casting this creative fabrication into the galaxy.
Fact: The half-Bothan Jedi Master was well known for his natural charisma and rather unusually extravagant look and demeanour for a member of the Jedi Order. The popular culture depictions of Farfalla standing in the wind with long locks of golden blonde hair flowing behind him, clad in an ornate suit of armour as his big blue eyes and handsome face look over the battlefields of Ruusan are not far off from actual holo-footage that exists of him.
Myth: Yet, despite his dashing looks and gregarious nature, Jedi Master Farfalla was not a lover of many men and women. In fact, records and historical accounts detailing the life of the famous half-Bothan indicate that he was a staunch follower of the Jedi Code and its mandated commitment to the Force alone. In other words, its vows of celibacy. Some might say there is a profound sense of irony behind a devoted Jedi Master becoming the patron of a holiday that celebrates romantic love and relationships.