Each year on Feb. 14, people exchange cards, gifts, flowers, etc. with their special Valentine. However, has Valentine’s Day become overrated? Is the tradition still an exciting part of our society?
Evidence of people celebrating a love related holiday dates back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Pope Gelasius later remade this festival into a Christian feast day in honor of Saint Valentine cerca 496. From then on, Valentine’s Day has developed into one of the major holidays in the calendar year.
Around Valentine’s Day, stores stock up on flowers, chocolate and punny cards. Couples flock to Instagram and post sappy captions with their significant other, single people roll their eyes and go watch a romantic comedy, and people in between try to DTR* and maybe score a Valentine’s Day Date.
While some thoroughly enjoy Valentine’s Day, others could be less enthralled by the big corporate holiday.
“Valentine’s Day is just kind of an excuse for people who’ve been dating or married for a while to be romantic for one day instead of being close all the time,” senior Mattie Rice said.
The holiday also brings back memories of decorating old shoe boxes and exchanging candy with everyone on Valentine’s Day in grade school.
“I think Valentine’s Day is overrated nowadays, I miss when we would just make boxes and pass out funny Valentine’s to each other when we were little,” sophomore Emmett Halloran said.
For people in a relationship, Valentine’s Day is a time of celebration. Couples appreciate all they have been through together and look forward to what is to come. It is also a great time of year to drop hints about that new pair of shoes you have been eyeing.
“I think Valentine’s Day can be fun if you make it fun. It’s nice for couples to take a day and appreciate each other. Cody [Freshwater’s boyfriend] and I have a tradition to go to Snuffy’s Malt Shop on Valentine’s Day because that’s where we had our first date,” senior Jaedyen Freshwater said.
Valentine’s Day does not have to come with so much pressure to make your significant other’s day. A simple gesture of telling them how much they mean to you, or a simple gift like flowers will show them you care.
“It’s really the little things that count, it doesn’t have to be so elaborate. You can always just hang out with your friends who you love too,” Freshwater said.
The time around Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to take a leap of faith and “make a move” with someone you fancy. It seems terrifying to approach someone and confess your feelings, but it does not have to be so formal. Everyone’s worst fear is unrequited love, but you will never know until you try; YOLO*. Not to sound cliché, but just be yourself, you should not have to change who you are to get someone to like you.
*DTR: define the relationship.
*YOLO: you only live once.