Visa-tine’s Day? Columnist upset at the commercialization of Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2011 — by Izzy Albert
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Izzy Albert

Chocolates and teddy bears and flowers, oh my!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, whether you like it or not. Gals, get prepared to watch sappy love movies all night with a gallon of chocolate ice cream by your side, desperately waiting for “the one” to spare you one text or phone call. Guys, unfortunately, you have much higher expectations. Winning your girlfriend’s or crush’s heart requires you to provide her with all of the necessary materialistic items, like jewelry, chocolates (not the kind with fruit inside) and flowers.

Chocolates and teddy bears and flowers, oh my!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, whether you like it or not. Gals, get prepared to watch sappy love movies all night with a gallon of chocolate ice cream by your side, desperately waiting for “the one” to spare you one text or phone call. Guys, unfortunately, you have much higher expectations. Winning your girlfriend’s or crush’s heart requires you to provide her with all of the necessary materialistic items, like jewelry, chocolates (not the kind with fruit inside) and flowers.

All of this is simply known and accepted—a “traditional” way of celebrating just another holiday. The one question lingering in my mind, though, is how it all came to this.

Saint Valentine’s Day, an annual commemoration held on Feb. 14 to celebrate love and affection, was established in 500 A.D. to honor an early Christian martyr named Valentine. Once originating as a holiday to express sheer adoration, Valentine’s Day has undoubtedly become a “Hallmark Holiday,” seeming to exist solely for commercialization purposes.

A simple heartfelt card doesn’t seem to be enough anymore, but the expectations now have a price tag. However, buying your “special friend” a box of chocolates is only really helping the See’s Candy CEO save up for his fourth Ferrari.

Wouldn’t you rather save your money and help bring back the true meaning of Valentine’s Day? Personally, I’d much rather prefer a sweet card over a sweet candy bar. I’m a bit sappy, but those cliché traditions always pull at my heartstrings.

Some nice things you can do for your significant other in lieu of buying materialistic items can include baking them homemade goods, surprising them with handpicked flowers, romantically throwing rocks at their window, emulating anything you’ve seen in a Taylor Swift music video or burning them a CD of romantic songs. There are plenty of thoughtful things you can do that don’t involve burning a hole in your pocket.

It’s unfortunate to see the true meanings of Valentine’s Day become muddled and lost in the idea that money is the only way to win love. Love is not a new car or a new necklace; it is being able to see past it all and appreciate personality over everything else. So, let’s celebrate the true meaning of love the right way. Let’s bring back the original significance to this over-rated holiday. Gals, get off your couch and text that guy first. Guys, ditch the chocolates. Write her a sappy and heartfelt card. Trust me, it’s a win-win.

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