Money Can’t Buy Me Love
Why we need to stop calling it Valentines Day
By Brianna Lucynski, Co-Editor in Chief
Why we need to stop calling it Valentines Day
By Brianna Lucynski, Co-Editor in Chief
I have always been, and will always be, anti-Valentine’s Day. It’s not that I follow the hippie notion that, “Everyday should be Valentine's Day” and it’s not that I support the conspiracy theory that the holiday was invented by the Hallmark company (although that’s probably true). The fact is, the holiday itself isn’t the least bit romantic.
When most people think of Valentine's Day they think of flowers and chocolates, or maybe happy couples holding hands. However, what people don’t think about is the anxiety faced by many around this time of year. The pressure of the days leading up to the fourteenth as people scramble to get the perfect gift for their partner. The fear of rejection many feel as they try to muster up the courage to ask the big question, “Will you be my valentine?” Or, for some, it’s simply coming to terms with the fact that they’ll be all alone on Valentine’s Day. When taking into consideration the stress that’s caused by Valentine’s Day, it makes you wonder if it’s really worth the time, effort, and money. Why should we let big corporations make money off us lovesick individuals?
Which brings me to my next point, love isn’t meant to be capitalized on. This year Valentine's Day spending is estimated to reach 22 billion dollars in the U.S. alone according to statista.com. People tend to overspend on gifts for their significant other this time of year. This is due to the commercialism of the holiday. Commercials and internet ads for jewelry, flowers, and chocolates are shoved down our throats;many supporting the popular American belief that money can buy love, orput a price tag on someone's heart.
As a society, we need to change the way we think about Valentine’s Day. We need to take out the stress and pull off the price tags. We need to rebrand. Joe from Blue's Clues (season 6 ep 2) refers to it not as Valentine's Day, but Love Day because that's what it really is, a day about love. If you feel stress about not spending the day with a romantic partner this year try, instead, celebrating with friends, family, or even a pet. I encourage people who are still looking for gifts to, instead, opt for a handmade card. Handmade sentiments are much more memorable than supermarket flowers that will end up wilting the next morning, anyways.
When most people think of Valentine's Day they think of flowers and chocolates, or maybe happy couples holding hands. However, what people don’t think about is the anxiety faced by many around this time of year. The pressure of the days leading up to the fourteenth as people scramble to get the perfect gift for their partner. The fear of rejection many feel as they try to muster up the courage to ask the big question, “Will you be my valentine?” Or, for some, it’s simply coming to terms with the fact that they’ll be all alone on Valentine’s Day. When taking into consideration the stress that’s caused by Valentine’s Day, it makes you wonder if it’s really worth the time, effort, and money. Why should we let big corporations make money off us lovesick individuals?
Which brings me to my next point, love isn’t meant to be capitalized on. This year Valentine's Day spending is estimated to reach 22 billion dollars in the U.S. alone according to statista.com. People tend to overspend on gifts for their significant other this time of year. This is due to the commercialism of the holiday. Commercials and internet ads for jewelry, flowers, and chocolates are shoved down our throats;many supporting the popular American belief that money can buy love, orput a price tag on someone's heart.
As a society, we need to change the way we think about Valentine’s Day. We need to take out the stress and pull off the price tags. We need to rebrand. Joe from Blue's Clues (season 6 ep 2) refers to it not as Valentine's Day, but Love Day because that's what it really is, a day about love. If you feel stress about not spending the day with a romantic partner this year try, instead, celebrating with friends, family, or even a pet. I encourage people who are still looking for gifts to, instead, opt for a handmade card. Handmade sentiments are much more memorable than supermarket flowers that will end up wilting the next morning, anyways.