It’s February, and love is in the air. As the Feast of Valentine approaches, the lovebugs of the world start to creep out of hibernation. You may be asking yourself as you read this, “Is this one simple day really all that it is cracked up to be?” The answer to that is… hell no!
Now to be fair, this holiday does go back many years. The name is derived from St. Valentine himself, a martyred clergyman who would marry Christians in secret during the Roman Empire. Dating back to the 8th century, his feast day, Feb. 14, is still recognized by Western Christianity today. The day is dedicated to courtly love, although he is also known as the patron saint of the city of Terni, epilepsy, and beekeepers.
However, in today’s light, Feb. 14 is a day that makes many singles angsty and jealous while simultaneously making those in relationships worry that they won’t do enough to show their significant other how much they love them. The hype of this holiday makes it feel like the whole day is Frankenstein’s monster; all of us think it’s a big day of love and acceptance, but it’s a lie. It’s a lie!
Let me be real: I think Valentine’s Day is not all that special. The hype that people make the holiday out to be is all in the commercial sales of stores trying to sell candy and gimmicks. The movie industry also plays a large role in the holiday, as movies make romantic gestures appear extremely common between couples. The reality of it all is that this day is nothing short of empty promises and unmet expectations. For those who do plan a romantic outing for their loved one, they will have to one-up themselves the next year, and the next.
Plus, this kind of pressure can be especially hard for those who are in new relationships. The uncertainty about what to do can wreak havoc on the special day. The stress leads you to taking your date to Olive Garden and giving them a gimmicky present.
The worst kind of gift one can get during this day is the dreaded candy hearts—small, chalky, heart-shaped antacids that have weird and cryptic misspelled messages that signify one’s feelings towards you, like I LUV U or I AM WATCHING YOU. The latter makes me wonder if the person giving you these is really a lover or one of those stalkers who make a ransom note out of letters from a magazine. This is especially true with how crazy some people get on Valentine’s Day.
If you’re not a fan of pink or red, then you might want to stay in your house when this day comes. Pink here, red there, pink and red everywhere you look, from decorations to clothing. Many different tints of pink can be seen in stores and houses on Valentine’s Day, so it can be a lot for those who aren’t that into untamed colors. For people who like the color, and the occasional vampire who goes gaga over the color of blood, then Valentine’s Day is a paradise for you.
In the end, Valentine’s Day is really a commercial holiday that appears to celebrate love, but it only is appreciated by those who have someone in their life to experience it with. Even though it may be about all kinds of love, it has become more about the sexual or romantic love you get from a partner and not from your family. It’s not like the love in elementary school anymore, with heart-shaped lollipops and the specialized cards your mom bought at CVS for you to hand out to your classmates.
Even though this day has a good message for many, the whole idea of it being this great day of love and affection is really all hype. We shouldn’t have only one day to centralize the feelings that we have towards others. If we express our love everyday, the world could burn brighter and greater towards a better and peaceful tomorrow.
