Valentine's Day – Why All the FUSS?

If we look at the history of Valentine’s day, it has its religious connotations of Christianising pagan festivals, sacrifice and match making. Thus, the story of Valentine’s Day can be said to have always had a romantic element, if we just forget the sacrificing animals and the blatant attempt to convert people, but have we been converted ourselves? Have we become a society hell bent on relying on one day of the year to tell the person we love that we think they are “the one”?

Just no

Arguably Valentine’s day has become a combination of cheap tacky cards (no we are not interested in a type-writer claiming that “you’re my type”), over-priced flowers (£20 for a dozen roses in Sainsbury’s(!)) and the pressure for endless dinners and confessions of love. The only thing that is really worth while out of that long list is the confessions of love, but why do we feel the pressure of this day to do it? Wouldn’t it just be nicer if everyday people felt they could admit to their true feelings?

I overheard two girls talking in a café yesterday saying “Are you going to join me in the honorary ‘single and proud’ day?” to which the other girl replied, “Sure, what are we doing? I don’t want to be miserable like I was last year!”

This is just another reason as to why Valentine’s Day is a disaster. Why should single people feel the pressure of Valentine’s Day? Why should they feel left out? Maybe we should have a whole day where instead of couples, we celebrate the people we love? A “love to all day”, surely there is a religious figure that encouraged that? Figured it out yet? Nearly all of them!

What is even worse about Valentine’s day is going into restaurants and it being full of couples. For single people this just seems like a nightmare. Any person who has watched Bridget Jones may be able to empathise with her at the “snug married couples” table. These couples all sitting at the tables talking about how much they love each other also seems a bit hypocritical when last week they were both screaming at each other or asking themselves “Why am I with you?!” Now this article may appear as if it is coming from a person who is bitterly single, but it’s not. I’ve been in a relationship for two years and I still think it’s mad! All this commercialism doesn’t seem right. So if you agree with me, text your loved one now and just tell them that you love them or are thinking about them. Try to celebrate your relationship every day and don’t just wait for Valentine’s Day!