Valentine’s Day. You love it or hate it. Personally, I’m not a huge fan, but I do blush at the thought of receiving flowers. And I do wholeheartedly believe others feel the same. But, Valentine’s Day is a tough day for many, especially those with no one to celebrate with. 

Allegedly, Valentine’s Day began with the Pagan Roman holiday, Lupercalia. This day was dedicated to the fertility of women, which include interesting traditions, such as slapping females with fur hides. The strange and violent origin is unsettling. Although it’s the most common root of the holiday, there are alternative myths about where it began, such as in France and England, people believed that birds started their mating season on Feb. 14. The skewed beginnings of Valentine’s Day make it difficult to celebrate, personally. 

Another huge turn-off is the idea of companies profiting off people when they purchase greeting cards. These cheesy cards always seem to put a smile on my face, especially when someone leaves a meaningful message within the card. But for some, the printed item is an excuse for some significant others to put in the bare minimum. If you only received a card for Valentine’s Day, with no personalized message inside, your partner needs to step it up. 

People spend an absurd amount of money on little gifts for their partner, family or children. According to Good Housekeeping, in 2019, Americans spent $20 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts, which consists of candy, chocolates, jewelry and flowers. People are bombarded with the stress of breaking their backs attempting to pull out all the stops for their significant other, which to some means they must spend a mint.

I believe a simple bouquet of flowers, whether it’s one made by a florist or handmade with Trader Joe’s flowers, is the best way to go. I know flowers tend to be more expensive, so I do understand that this may not be possible for some, but even just a single flower can mean the most to someone. In addition to a card with a personalized message, this will guarantee a big, big smile from your partner. 

For the people who have no one to spend the holiday with, it can be excruciatingly lonely. According to Heathline, approximately 21 percent of people say it’s just another day for them, 19 percent say they don’t care, and about seven percent say the day makes them upset. These numbers can be due to a loss of a loved one, a recent break up or purely not feeling loved. My solution: make sure your friends and family feel just as loved as a partner with a simple text reading, “I love you.” It can make a world of difference. 

I said it once and I’ll say it again, I blush at the thought of receiving flowers. I deeply believe that making an effort to your partner on this day can be an amazing feeling. But, if the effort is not there or one doesn’t have the privilege of someone to spend the day with, it can be a tough day. So, is Valentine’s Day overrated?