Valentine’s Day, a Warwick students’ perspective: An act of love or a scam?

Valentine’s Day… It’s tricky business, isn’t it? Those who don’t have a date, or a ”Valentine” scramble to find anyone with a beating heart to go out with, whereas those with a partner go overboard on merchandise to proclaim their undying love to one another. Is Valentine’s Day truly an opportunity to celebrate love, or is it just another consumerist holiday where admiration is proportional to the amount of money spent?

1. Singles

For those unaffiliated, Valentine’s Day seems like more of a curse than a blessing, hence the creation of ”Galentine’s”. Galentine’s was popularised as a way to substitute a lack of romance and celebrate platonic friendships instead. The concept of Galentine’s seems so wholesome: Making plans with friends, watching films and cooking together. One can’t help but wonder, however, if men feel the same urge to fulfil this romantic desire. Brolantine’s? It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue…

On top of this, companies and brands have capitalised on love and romance (or lack thereof). To quote one TikTok that has received much attention from the public (with over a million likes), “If your boyfriend doesn’t get you these new skims underwear for Valentine’s, what is he doing?” Now there is nothing wrong with practicing the art of self-love or gifting thoughtful presents to your partner, but it is clear that brands use these major consumerist holidays as a marketing strategy; one that is highly effective. Self-care companies are particularly targeting single folk with ”love yourself this Valentine’s” as a mantra, whereas chocolate and flower shops, well, they don’t need any advertising…

2. Couples

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For those in relationships, Valentine’s can be just as, if not more stressful. It is inherently believed that gifts are a strong token of  love towards another. And while there is nothing wrong with this statement, comparison is the killer of joy. With social media as an easy outlet to show off achievements, apps such as TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat are a great way to show others how much you are loved. And how humble you are.

Videos showing a thousand red roses or bottles of champagne and chocolates piled on top of more bottles are saturating the internet. These gifts, as lovely as they are, are a source of frustration for couples who don’t have the means to put on a huge show, leaving many feeling inadequate in the way they show their love. Some go as far as to take money out of their savings and use their whole pay check to make sure their partner has a good time.

3. The most awkward holiday

What is the threshold in dating for two people to celebrate Valentine’s Day? For some, Valentine’s Day puts them in an awkward position. The evolution of romance in modern societies shows that there are more than just two categories (single or in a relationship). Whether you agree with the concept or not, some individuals date ”casually” while others are just starting to get to know each other.

There are also the infamous ”situationships” which no one is exactly sure how to define, but I’m sure it puts people in tricky positions. When do you then feel it’s appropriate to spend Valentine’s Day together? The moral is that it means different things to different people, and social media sucks. Just kidding, but seriously, there’s no need to compare yourself to other couples. If you’re happy with a home-cooked meal and a film, then who’s to say that isn’t the epitome of love?