In defense of Valentine’s Day
Single or not, there is a lot more to a certain Feb. 14 holiday than cards, chocolates, romantic relationships
Romantic love is often put on a pedestal above all other types of love, but love is love and should all be valued the same. In this same logic, Valentine’s Day is not exclusively romantic and even if you’re single, can and should be enjoyed.
February 14, 2022
You’ve heard it all before. Valentine’s Day is nothing more to some than a commercialized holiday, made to force people into buying presents for their loved ones and being pressured into being in a relationship as to not spend the holiday alone. While I acknowledge that this sentiment has many fair points, I would like to offer a counterclaim as to why Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays.
My veneration for valentine’s
Let’s start with the basics. My view of Valentine’s Day is similar to many as I see it as a celebration of love. Where it starts to diverge, however, is that my Valentine’s extends far beyond romantic love. It includes platonic, familial, and just a love for love. To me, Valentine’s is a day that you can express gratitude and affection towards people for no reason other than to show your admiration or love for them. It’s a space to say things that might be hard or feels strange to say on other days, but on Valentine’s Day, you get a pass to be as mushy and cliché as you want. I love telling people I love them, and on Valentine’s Day it’s way less weird to do that. Valentine’s Day also allows for more love around. It can also be a source of sadness for single people, but as a single person myself, I believe Valentine’s Day is also incredible when single.
Single sentiments
Singles, I get it, being alone on Valentine’s and seeing couples being in love (gross) can make us feel dejected. But every time this holiday rolls around, I am reminded of how much I love love. And even more than that, how much I enjoy loving. I use this time to love my friends, my parents and sisters, but most importantly myself. It’s easy to see Valentine’s as a day for others, to give and give and give, but it is necessary to receive as well. Existing outside of and being happy outside of a relationship is a vital life skill, and I am grateful every Valentine’s Day that I am content being loved by myself if not by anyone else. Romantic love is often put on a pedestal above all other types of love, but I would like to dispel that idea from any reader’s mind.
Love is love and should all be valued the same. In this same logic, Valentine’s Day is not exclusively romantic and even if you’re single, can and should be enjoyed.
Passion for pink
On a much more superficial note, I love Valentine’s decorations! Pink and Red, hearts and glitter, and even funny little cupids make me so happy. It fills me with so much joy to see bright colors and fun outfits and makeup. To see so many different people celebrate a silly holiday about love. Especially in such a hard time, watching people participate and enjoy Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite parts of this holiday.
A crushing conclusion
My hope is that others will appreciate and try and extract love and joy from Valentine’s Day, despite it being a way to commodify love. For me, it is a day to spread joy and showcase love that is always there, just not at the forefront. Even if alone, it can be a day to appreciate life and those around you. It can be a day to just celebrate yourself and love yourself.
Valentine’s Day can be anything you make it and for me, that means embracing the love and spreading it wherever I can.
Elyza B • Mar 2, 2022 at 2:15 pm
Valentine’s day does bring up a lot of different opinions, and my own differ slightly, I think this mentions a lot of the things I do like and appreciate Valentine’s day for, as well as defending the parts I have some distaste for. I think it was very well written and I liked the sectioning of the aspects of the holiday.
Kiki Baker • Mar 2, 2022 at 11:50 am
Valentine’s day seemed nothing more than pressure and a reminder of loneliness for me. Still, reading this article, I can understand the opinion coming from the writer, and with the way the writer wrote it, I see valentine’s day a completely different way. Good job!! thanks.
sylvie • Feb 25, 2022 at 10:13 am
I think this story made me look at it from a different angle. I was never against Valentines Day, but I also just didn’t think it was important at all. It’s cool to see it from a different point of view, and I think it showed me that Valentines day is not just for romantic love but also for all your valued friendships and relationships.
Lexi • Feb 22, 2022 at 2:19 pm
This story made me look at valentines a little different. I would say valentines was one of my least favorite holidays but now that I see it in a different point of view, I like it more. I also agree I love seeing the decorations, mainly the eye make up people do and the cupids.