Creative Expression :: Rant
The Typical Valentine's Day Rant
I know that Valentine's Day serves a purpose. It gives boyfriends a chance to make up for all the shit they put their girlfriend's through the whole year. It gives little kids (and ok us adults too) another excuse after Christmas to eat way too many sweets and little candy hearts.
Most of all, it gives Hallmark a bunch of money. There's no major holidays between New Years and St. Paddy's day and we all know they couldn't survive a month with just the birthday/get well/thank you/anniversary/I'm sorry/wedding and whatever the hell you can think of cards and gifts. So there's Valentine's right there in the middle. Ready to suck you into buying every cute heart-shaped item you can find.
And no, it's not just the couples who are buying this candy/card crap. For some unknown reason, this "love fest holiday" extends beyond those who are happily or unhappily paired-off. The twosome always have to send some v-day token of love to their single friends. Why do they do this? Don't they realize it just rubs how alone that poor single person is right in their face? I know nine times out of ten, the couple in question are not sadistic and cruel. More often it's pity and happens something like this:
Woman*: Poor Amanda is single on yet another Valentine's. I'm so glad I've got you honeybunch (smooches) to take me to "insert hundred dollar a plate restaurant here" and send me two dozen roses but only one box of chocolates since I'm watching my figure. You're going to do all that right?
Man**: Uhh yeah. Right. Uhh. Hey, I got a great idea. Steve is single. Maybe he's lonely. We should invite Amanda and Steve with us. But we should go to a pizza joint or something because Steve can't really afford the "insert hundred dollar a plate restaurant here".
Woman: (smacks Man lightly on the shoulder) We can't do that? We did that last year and it was completely lousy! Amanda hates Steve!
Man: oh yeah. Well. ... What about Bob?
Woman: Look, I'm not wasting another valentine's trying to set up my terminally-single friend. (she softens). I want you all to myself honeybu-
Man: (whispers) could you not call me honeybunch in public?
Woman: (glares)
Man: (changes subject) Hey, let's send her a card and that box of chocolates.
Woman: What a great idea! You always think of the sweetest things. No wonder I love you, hone... I mean, my little bunch of honey.
So the dialogue might have wandered a little bit there, but I think the point has been made. And poor Amanda (or insert another "terminally-single" friend here) who just wants to forget about the day and let it pass as every other day in February has, will be brutally reminded of her single status when she opens the mail on the morning of February 14th and is overloaded with vday cards from her loving and concerned paired-off friends.
Let's continue with the Amanda example. Amanda could be happy that she's single. Amanda, even though recognizing her happiness at being single, still might feel slightly depressed and alone during a holiday (and the time leading up to it) that screams how great it is to be “in love”. It’s almost impossible to hide from the commercialization of the red, pink, and white hearts everywhere. But having her “well-intended” friends send her pity valentines is just too much. A single girl with confidence and self-esteem could easily get an ego trampling during the lovers’ day.
It’s been established that Valentine’s is not too enjoyable for those without “better halves”. But why have the holiday at all? If you take away the fact that Hallmark will never give it’s precious little money maker up, there’s no good reason for Valentine’s Day. Couples and Lovers have so many different reasons to be romantic and treasure their love on certain days. There’s anniversaries of the day they first met, the day they first went out on a real date, the day they first kissed, and the day they first made love/had sex (all of which could be the same day but also could have the couple celebrating several times a year). I’m sure several more examples could be thought of if you put it in the minds of some overzealous people to find out. And isn’t it better to celebrate these special days because they belong to YOU and not the entire world?
Yeah, Valentine’s Day has its purpose. But I don’t think it has a whole lot to do with love anymore.
*I do not see this as a typical woman, nor am I trying to generalize unfairly about all women in relationships
**see above. Insert man/men for woman/women
