Couples Don't Need V-day Excuse to Show Love

Originally published on February 8, 2007

Whether you embrace or despise the idea of Valentines’ Day (or “Singles’ Awareness Day”), it’s hard to miss the massive amounts of over-priced chocolate, candies, teddy bears, hearts and flowers that are shoved in your face when you go to a store. Right after the Christmas season, before you even have a chance to take down your tree, retailers are already bringing out the next holiday fluff.

It doesn’t matter if you’re attached or single—either way Valentine’s Day can be a stressful event. It’s a day where society likes to point out the fact that you’re alone. Or it’s a day where you have to somehow prove to your significant other that you really care about them, or you’ll be sleeping on the couch (or making them sleep on the couch).

What ever happened to the happy exchange of Valentine’s Day cards to all of your friends, just to say “Be my Valentine.” In grade school, at least for me, most students gave out Valentine’s Day cards to everyone, but there were always the select few who only gave it out to their friends, therefore messing up the class distribution of cards.

There was always the poor boy or girl who people ignored, and they were left with hardly any cards. I probably didn’t think twice about it back then, but now that I look back, I realize how mean children can be (not that I think adults are any nicer, but at least when you’re older it’s much easier to ignore people). Teachers tried to promote Valentine’s Day as a day to write something nice about each other, and for most people, it was very exciting to come to school and pass out the cards.

As people got older and the card exchange was no longer cute, it turned into a boyfriend/girlfriend only type of holiday. I’m not sure why people feel the need to celebrate Valentine’s Day, as though any other day of the year is not as important as this one.

It’s a little depressing that Valentine’s Day is about as commercialized as it can get, when the history of Valentine’s Day dates back to the fifth century where Pope Gelasius officially declared Feb. 14 Saint Valentine’s Day. I’m pretty sure back then that no one was fighting to buy the last roses from the local florist.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently throughout the world. In countries like Japan, women are the ones who are out buying the candies and chocolates for men. I don’t think it’s fair for this holiday to be one-sided. I’m all about equal opportunity, so this year it’s my turn to plan something for Valentine’s Day. I made an agreement with my significant other that no roses will be bought on this day (let alone any other day) and there will be no purchases of cute pink or red stuffed items from Hallmark.

So why can’t Valentine’s Day simply be a day to show a special friend or family member that you care? It doesn’t have to be about the chocolates, love notes or flowers. It is always nice to let someone know that you’re thinking of them. It doesn’t have to include a romantic candlelight dinner, but letting someone know that you care with a simple note, hand-made card or a telephone call (text message if you’re really lazy) will go a long way.

Sophia is a communications major who really isn't promoting simple plans for Valentine's Day just because it's her turn to make them...