I Hate Valentine’s Day
February 10th, 2009 | Categories: Relationships | 15 CommentsThis Saturday is February 14, which means that it’s Valentine’s Day. In the commercial world, it’s hard to miss this holiday, even if you really try to ignore it. As soon as Christmas is over, stores start ushering in the Valentine’s decorations, and commercials for Hallmark, Godiva, and other companies that make huge profits around Valentine’s Day are aired constantly on television. It’s suffocating, really; everyone knows when Valentine’s Day is already and the holiday generates a mixed reaction from people. Some people love Valentine’s Day, while others hate it. I happen to fall in the latter category.
It’s not a matter of being depressed over Valentine’s Day because I’m single. Even when I was in a relationship during Valentine’s Day, I still thought the holiday was a load of crap. Yes, in theory it should be all lovely and romantic with flowers, chocolates, romantic gestures, and a wonderful day with your significant other. Except in reality, Valentine’s Day is never what it’s made out to be in all of the commercials and advertisement campaigns. If you’re in a relationship, it creates unrealistic expectations that can never be met of an incredibly romantic day with your partner. If you’re not in a relationship, then, well, you may as well buy yourself a box of chocolates1 and stuff your face with them because everyone else in the world has someone that loves them and by being single, you are evidently all alone in the world.
Valentine’s Day has become nothing but a holiday exploited by Hallmark, Godiva, and other related companies to rake in the big bucks selling this perception of a day where the “perfect romance” can occur, where you can be swept off your feet and fall head over heels in love with someone. If you happen to want to tell someone you love them the day before or the day after Valentine’s2 , it won’t be as romantic. Nope, save any and every romantic gesture you’ve ever wanted to show towards your partner for Valentine’s Day. It’s the only day where your partner will really appreciate it, after all.
Some say that Valentine’s Day gives them a chance to express their feelings towards their significant other. Again, what a load of crap! Honestly, if you’re with someone, then it shouldn’t be hard to tell them how you feel, because being with them is a pretty big indicator as to what your feelings are! And if you need that extra push to tell someone how you feel about them, then how about following the saying “Live every day as if it were your last” rather than “Well, it’s Valentine’s Day, so I guess now is as good a time as ever…” Allowing Valentine’s Day to manipulate and dictate when and how you can express your feelings towards another is ridiculous, and is an indicator of how society has given into the marketing tactics of the commercial world.
Personally, I think it would be far more romantic for your partner to randomly surprise you with a gesture of their love for you any day of the year. It would carry more meaning and thought if it was done simply so that they could show you how much you meant to them because they wanted to show you, not because an over-marketed holiday dictated that it was required for them to do so on a particular day. I would love a romantic surprise given to me “just because” rather than “I did it cause it’s Valentine’s Day.”
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Hi, I'm Manda. I'm a college student studying communications and languages. I like to read, shop, bake, and travel. I have a tendency to listen to my favorite songs on repeat for hours on end. Sometimes I catch myself thinking in a language other than English. 
I don’t hate Valentine’s Day. I think for people who love each other every day anyway it is yet another sweet day, which is good. However, I completely agree with every point you have made. My boyfriend and I are guilty of giving each other Valentine’s Day gifts, but they are silly gifts which are far from “romantic” to mock the day. And I wouldn’t care if neither of us did anything – he gives me a gift on any other day I will just be as happy. I am sick of seeing girls who flip out when their boyfriend appears empty-handed. :/
Not to mention, I dread to think of all the teenage pregnancy/abortion/morning after pills resulted. Those companies almost owe us the virtue of a generation.
I’m in one of those horrible annoying relationships when we are affectionate constantly. We won’t go crazy for Valentines, I wouldn’t mind not getting anything, I just want to spend the day together. I am doing something special for him though, but that’s because I want to do it, and any other day of the year I’d get told off for spending the money, but on this day I have an excuse.
I guess I’m on the fence. I do hate the commercial side of it, and seeing people who normally don’t even seem to like their partner spending tons on presents and cards, which is why I am making both my card and gift :)
I don’t think V day is as massive decoration and stocking shops wise as it is over the pond for you. I must agree though that it can get very annoying! I personally lean more towards the hating side than the liking, but my opinion could change when I am in a relationship. I definitely agree that the commercialism of it is stupid!
And yes, random surprises of love are far better!
I am going to get my hair cut so V day will be a very happy day for me, you know how I love getting my hair done hahahaha.
I agree with you; I imagine that Valentine’s day leaves more people sadder than happier. But if couples take it as a day to be together, I think it’s fine. I’d be worried if that was the only day they took to show affection for each other, though.
I don’t hate valentines day but at the same time, I don’t like it either. I guess it’s because I’ve always been single so don’t really have that special someone to do crap for me… haha. Every year, I end up just spending it with friends who are also single… and I like to call it Singles Awareness Day. I do tell my friends and family that I love them but I always do that so Valentine’s Day is no different than any other day.
I just ignore valentines day. It’s either on a school day, or a weekend (obviously), but whatever, getting up in the morning on Valentines is just as miserable as getting up every other day. I do admit to loving some of the stuff these shops come out with though, like the little teddies and things with their arms wide saying “I love you THIS much!”, but other than that, I ignore everything about the day. If I ever have someone to spend it with I may start paying attention again, but until then, I shall just take it as I do every other Saturday: go out and spend every last bit of my money on CDs and books. ^_^
I don’t mind Valentines day. It’s just another excuse to have a nice evening in with my lover, and for presents. :) OK so we don’t /have/ to wait ’til Valentines day for that, but why not? ;) I’m just not happy that this year Friday 13th precedes it (and it’s a double whammy Friday 13th at that). :(
I enjoy Valentines Day for the amount of candy that’s around … :P if I happen to get some, yummy. If not, then I’ll just go buy a whole bunch when they’re sitting on the shelves the week after, haha.
Sometimes people have busy lives … I kind of think of V-Day as more of a “make an excuse to get together and do the horizontal tango”. :X Tee hee.
I’m not that fond of Valentines day either (though I can’t say I hate it), maybe because I’m single.. I don’t know. I guess I don’t understand why it should all happen in one day… why can’t they spread it over the year.
I say, amen! This post resembles my feelings towards this overrated holiday. Personally, I would prefer the little, random surprises, as well, rather than the red roses and box of chocolates on this day, just because it’s a “must”.
I’ll be going to a ball (not related to Valentine’s Day in any way!) this Saturday, so that will be my oh-so lovely V-Day. It’s a thing we must do for our school every year, and this time it turned out to be on this certain day, but! – I couldn’t care less. I’ll be learning the whole day, anyway.
Maybe I’ll make some bonbons for my family, but that’s it. And only because I love making them. ;P
I tend to ignore it, though a few years ago (while single) I made it Free Hug Day with a shirt and everything and basically just opened myself up for hugs… It seemed to be received pretty well. :P This year I haven’t really cared much. I’m recently out of a relationship and though I work in retail and see all the Vday stuff, I’m working Saturday and it’s just going to be like any other Saturday.
The thing that annoys me is that I’ve recently started seeing this guy (more than once) and I don’t want him to think there’s any tension over the whole thing. I like to make gifts and do creative things for my friends & the person I’m with — but I do it any time, all the time, not just for Valentine’s Day or “real holidays.” I don’t want this dude thinking he has to avoid me because we’re not serious yet, or that he has to do something special simply because it happens to be the 14th. (To be honest, I’d rather celebrate Friday the 13th. :P)
I am, however, the only person on the planet who LOVES conversation hearts (so delicious) so in my point of view, there is at least one good thing coming out of this day…
My anniversary falls on V-Day, so I HAVE to celebrate it, and all the Valentine’s decorations and things help contribute to that mood, but I agree with you! Before I was celebrating anniversaries, V-Day was just.. commercialised crap.
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