5 Reasons to Avoid the Valentine’s Day Hype

Valentine’s Day and the things associated with it have become well worn cliches. Red roses, heart shaped candy and boxes of assorted chocolates are considered essential on this day.

 

Cards with .messages of undying devotion and declarations of love abound. White stuffed teddy bears with red hearts proudly displayed on their tummies form an adorably cuddly part of the Valentine’s Day merchandise.

 

 

Poor St. Valentine and his story of love and sacrifice has been forgotten in a haze of scented candles and perfume. Although the day that bears his name is celebrated worldwide hardly anyone knows anything about him. You can click here to find out more about this priest and about the history of  Valentine’s Day.

You may call me a kill joy, but I feel that its best to give this celebration of Valentine’s Day a wide berth.

Hete are five reasons why to avoid this 14th February celsbration:

1. Kills romance

How can Valentine’s Day kill romance, you say in disbelief. Although this notion might sound almost sacrilegious, think for a minute!

I Google searched romance and came up with many definitions but this is the one that I liked best:

“a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love”

But where is the mystery if people know that their significant other is bound to present them with flowers, chocolate or candy on 14th February.

 

There might be excitement in the anticipation of gifts but there is very little excitement or romance.

 

2. Great expectations

The popular concept of Valentine’s Day fosters an image of fairy tale romance. People try to achieve this, or think that they can attain the fairy talem1lp feeling by accumulating all the trappings of Valentine’s Day.

Great expectations, if unfulfilled may lead to major disappointment thus defeating the very purpose of Valentine’s.

This may be a wife’s concept/expectation of a Valentine’s Day gift.

This maybe her husbamd’s perception of a suitable gift on this day.

 

3. Peer pressure

Co-eds are under a lot of pressure in the days leading up to Valentine’s . The giving and receiving of cards accompanied by ooohs and aahs reaches a frenzied climax on February 14th .

Those who do not receive anything on Valentine’s Day can be left with feelings of inferiority and rejection. This sometimes leads to young people “faking” it by sending cards to themselves.

 

4. Marketing

Valentine’s Day is associated with the sale of so much merchandise that retailers all over the world spend a lot on advertising. Even in less permissive cultures in some Asian and Arab countries where “romantic” love is frowned upon, marketing campaigns advocate the sending of gifts and cards to parents and siblings.

When Valentine’s Day is extended to all relationships (not just romantic ones), it means more sales of gifts.

5. Materialism

Measuring love in designer perfume and diamonds is so typical of the materialistic world we live in.

Is a heart shaped pendant with a solitaire at its centre an indication of everlasting devotion? Can true love be measured in diamonds and rubies?

 

Expensive candle lit dinners in fancy restaurants are no more romantic than a moonlit walk on the beach which is absolutely free. Love and mutual affection do not need particular symbols or icons for their expression. They are expressed by the joy in shared experiences and the care and support for each other.

Any day of the year, or rather every day of the year, is a good time for the expression of love and affection.

Flowers are welcome any day, not just February 14th

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Or do you feel it is over rated?

Do drop a line in the comments section below and share your opinion.

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