Valentine's: the day "Hallmark" becomes a dirty word.
What's the big deal?
Why are people so passionately anti-Valentine's Day?
Type "anti valentine's" into Google, and you'll find there was a V-day protest in India this year. (I didn't even know they recognized Valentine's.) In undergrad, my friends once celebrated anti-Valentine's by smashing black roses frozen with liquid nitrogen. Yay chem lab nerds.
The party line seems to be something like:"We conciously don't celebrate, 365 days to show love, we're all anti-Hallmark-Holiday" (found
here). Some
Utah teens are saying pretty much the same thing. And UK's
New Scientist Magazine has
some intelligent words on the matter. Hell, even
Bacardi Rum is capitalizing on all the bitterness with a
"Shred Your Ex" bar promotion.
This may be the one holiday when ads and culture intersect with the most ANGER.
But we live in a media-savvy society.
Since when do you do ANYTHING just because an ad tells you to?
If you really feel your relationship is at stake because of some flowers or chocolates, you have bigger problems.
And I think you may be doing it to yourselves.
I'm looking to you, Culture, and especially you, Society. You both should be pushing back against Ads in a more constructive manner.
Here's my advice: If you're so against it, quit bitchin' and REINVENT it. Don't let anyone else's bitterness, or advertising, define your holiday or your happiness.
Reposted from my other blog:I always thought it was weird how so many people have an aversion to Valentine's Day. My family celebrated it as a day to remind everyone you love in your life, that you love them. So I'd cut out some construction paper hearts and decorate the house with Mom. Get chocolates and sign valentines for my family & friends. Get flowers for the dinner table. If I had a crush, he'd get a special card. See, we celebrated all kinds of love, not just a significant other.
When I went to college, I was deeply confused why so many people were bitter over a holiday dedicated to the people you love. It wasn't until someone sat down and explained to me the agony of being date-less on V-day in high school, or enduring sappy couples in restaurants. Or how some people see the red hearts and chocolates and flowers as insults, accusations, reminders of loneliness, artificial emotion, or just lies.
Damn. People got issues with Valentine's. But I don't let that change me, and I refuse to feel bad celebrating in front of other people. They're the ones who are mistaken. This is NOT a "date" holiday. It's a love holiday, and there are many different kinds of love.
Love.Parting gifts:
1)
V-Day by the numbers, a collection of Valentine's Day statistics.
2) a funny V-Day chart for dudes. (closer look
HERE)
