A common sentiment held throughout the College’s student community is that Valentine’s Day is a capitalistic holiday with no real value or worth. Many who are single feel that it is a holiday to make them feel ashamed, and those in relationships often claim the “standards are too high,” and that they are expected to “spend money for no reason.” My argument is simple: Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be commercialized or capitalistic, and it doesn’t have to be a celebration of only romantic love.
One of the biggest arguments I see against Valentine’s is that it produces a ton of waste and excessive amounts of useless items. While I agree that if you’re gifting someone nasty chocolates in a plastic box, you’re probably generating some waste, Valentine’s is one of the few holidays where a largely biodegradable product is one of the most sought-after gifts. Flowers, to me, are a special item that doesn’t produce as much environmental waste, and they also are a reminder of our love of nature and the environment. There’s also the option to be crafty, which creates a more sentimental product than store-bought goods anyway. You can make photo books, posters, cards, hand-sew a stuffed animal, put together a video collage, paint a mug or other gift, etc. These gifts are usually not only more meaningful, but they’re less likely to be wasteful or thrown away.
Valentine’s Day is also a great day to, quite honestly, see how much your partner values you. If your situationship or new partner can’t even bother to get you a few flowers or do something special for you, I don’t think it’s a sign that they don’t value the holiday—it’s a sign that they don’t value you. Many men and women alike hide behind the argument of Valentine’s being a “capitalistic hallmark holiday” in order to avoid having to put any effort into their partner. “Sorry babe, I didn’t get you any gifts or make you anything or make any plans for Valentine’s Day, I just don’t believe in it…” is code for, “I don’t want to have to spend time or money finding or making a gift you would enjoy, and I don’t want to go on a date with you.” There are plenty of cheap or free ways to celebrate the holiday and still make your partner feel special, so an outright refusal to celebrate often says more about the person’s willingness to put effort into you and the relationship than their fight against capitalism.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about your romantic partner, either. Anyone who feels like the holiday “shames them for being single” is either incredibly bitter or else failing to see the full scope of the holiday. One of my favorite memories, when I was little, was Valentine’s Day, when my dad would take me to the store to buy my mom a gift and flowers. I would always pick out something gold and glittery and the cheap grocery store flowers that were dyed into rainbow colors. I can remember being ecstatic to bring the gifts to my mom, and see her start laughing as she gets my crazy rainbow flowers for the 3rd year in a row. Coming from someone who has since lost her mom, I feel it’s important to value these moments where you get to show your family you love and appreciate them. It’s a holiday of love, but that doesn’t have to mean romantic love.
So, plan a wine and paint night with your best friends or partner. Send some flowers home to your mom – I’m partial to the crazy rainbow kind. Make a photo album or collage for someone who matters to you. Make someone a card – but use your own words and handwriting, not Hallmark’s. Find ways to enjoy and celebrate a day of love that fits your goals and needs. In our workaholic, monotonous society, we aren’t given enough breaks from our work and routine. I think we all deserve a moment to celebrate the people who add value to our lives.
