When
I read Alyssa's post, “Valentine's
Day: Important or Overrated?”
I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I realized all the parallels
with my own experiences with Valentine's Day.
Like Alyssa,
this year was also my first year having a true valentine that I cared
about. In the past, I have always despised the holiday because it
reminded me that I was single, while many of my friends had their own
boyfriends to keep them company. Even my celebration was like
Alyssa's: my girlfriend and I went out to dinner and gave each other
cute cards and little presents.
I agree that
Valentine's Day has become an overly materialistic holiday, when
everyone tries to show off how successful their relationships are on
social media by posting pictures of the expensive jewelry and giant
teddy bear their significant other bought them. However, it could be
argued that every major holiday also suffers from this phenomenon.
For example, Christmas is also now, in many cases, more about giving
the perfect presents to loved ones than it is a religious holiday, as
intended. It is perfectly acceptable to get your partner a small
thoughtful gift rather than an expensive gift. In a
study done at Stanford University, it was proven that the price
of a gift matters much less than the quality and thoughtfulness of
the gift. When gift-receivers were asked about expensive versus
sentimental presents, they almost always chose the sentimental gift.
However, when people were asked the same question as a gift-giver,
they felt pressured to get a more expensive present. It is
interesting that people don't trust their own opinions on the matter
and instead are persuaded by the media and other social pressures to
spend more money.
Still, I think
Valentine's Day is important and should stay a tradition. The holiday
does not have to be centered around lusty love and present-based
courtship, but instead can be for everyone in your life that you
love. Ever since I was a child, my parents would always get me and my
sister a card and chocolates and even if we didn't have a significant
other, there was always Mom and Dad. I also remember staying up late
the day before Valentine's day putting together Valentines for each
of my classmates, a requirement for our school parties. It is an
adorable holiday that can also serve as a reminder to take time and
appreciate everyone in your life that brings you joy and makes you
feel loved. However, Valentine's Day seems to be losing some of this
innocence and ubiquity in schools. Students aren't allowed to bring
in treats because of health codes, and some schools have banned the
celebrations altogether to avoid bullying. Valentine's Day should
stay in schools to teach social skills, especially at a younger
level.
Another argument
against the holiday is that if a couple is happy, then they shouldn't
need a specific holiday to dedicate to one another. Every day should
be like Valentine's Day, full of love and appreciation for one
another. However, even as a believer in true love, I know this is not
realistic for any couple. Every couple will have days where the
partners don't see quite eye to eye and have a disagreement or
misunderstanding. There are long, stressful days when the couple does
nothing for each other, and just goes to sleep without exchanging a
word. In a study shown on yougov.com, when couples age, they forget
to say I love you as often as new relationships. There is a dramatic
reduction in how often couples say it after about 10 years of being
together. If nothing more, Valentine's day is a much needed reminder
to tell your loved one that you still love them.
Valentine's Day
may be overly idealized and unnecessarily materialistic, but it is
still sweet that as a culture, we have decided to devote a day to
appreciating those who we love.
No comments:
Post a Comment