Spending Valentine’s Day with or without a certain someone on the mind can differ people’s perceptions of the holiday. Valentine’s Day has the expectations of expressing love and appreciation for a loved one through gifts, romantic gestures, and special dates. There may be pressure to make the day meaningful for a significant other, but all of the thought and care put towards this event makes the day memorable and romantic. On the other hand, for those who are single, Valentine’s Day can raise a range of emotions. Some may feel indifferent or jealous about the holiday, seeing it as overly commercialized or feeling excluded from the celebrations. Others might embrace the opportunity to celebrate self-love or the love they share with friends and family instead. There are pros and cons on both sides of the argument, it’s not as black and white as some people would make it out to be.
A survey was released to Glen Rock High School to see the different viewpoints on the holiday based on students in a relationship to those who are single. 44 percent of respondents said they do not overromanticize the holiday while the other 56 percent believe they do. Both groups still share many of the same traditions such as watching a popular romance film. 71 percent of the total respondents said they either see The Notebook, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, or 10 Things I Hate About You, watching alone or with someone they love.
There is no shame in being single on Valentine’s Day, Riley Crabtree, a writer for Miami University, said, “We don’t have to scowl and curse our relationship status every Feb. 14…I would much rather be in no relationship than a relationship with the wrong person.” People tend to crave a spark in a strong relationship, but this is often hard to find. Instead of feeling bad for yourself and dreading the day, knowing that you are making the right choice by spending the time however it is right for you is most important.
“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” said an American poet, Robert Frost. Showing that everyone desires the same affection so there is no point in self-pity. Everybody’s time for a healthy connection will eventually come, some people merely find it sooner than others. Valentine’s is a day that was once associated with murder and has evolved into a celebration of love. Valentine’s has its roots in both ancient Roman rituals and Christianity. The day first originated in the third century when St. Valentine, a popular Roman priest, defied Emperor Claudius II’s banning of marriages for young men and continued to perform weddings in secret. This decision led to his execution and the people’s idea of Valentine’s Day. Over the centuries, the holiday gradually became associated with love. Today, the Holiday is celebrated worldwide, commercialized as a day of romance.
Even if you are not in a relationship, that does not mean you can’t spend the day with someone you love. An anonymous survey response said, “My mom has always been my Valentine. She always makes me feel loved in a special way even though she loves me every day…” and another stated the complete opposite, “I don’t feel like Valentine’s Day is a good way to show your loved one how you feel about them and some people can overdo it.” Hearing two very different opinions on being single shows that Valentine’s Day is truly what you decide to make of it, people do not necessarily need a significant other to spend the day with for it to be meaningful.
