By Victoire Heyworth, Year 12
Valentine’s Day is terrible for two kinds of people: those who are single and those who aren’t. For those who are single it is a reminder they do not have a “special someone” in their life. Not a totally great feeling, am I right? But honestly, the day seems to be worse for people who are actually in a relationship. The rest of us who are single can simply choose to ignore the day or spend it with friends. However, when you’re in a relationship, the last thing you want to do is ignore the day and end up questioning your relationship.
My issue is not about people expressing their feelings, it’s about the high expectations that come with that expression of love on Valentine’s Day. Each year, a majority of us face societal pressure to be romantic with our loved one on this day. We hold them to a higher standard than on any other day and are more susceptible to disappointment when comparing what they did for us versus what the rest of social media or friends did that day. But shouldn’t romance be natural, and shouldn’t couples get to choose the moment to be romantic?
For most singles out there, the concept of Valentine’s Day seems like an excuse to brag about your significant other. It’s a performative holiday, so people act like they love each other more or do special things to impress their partner and the people around them to avoid social pressure.
But what is the exact point of Valentine’s Day? What specifically are we supposed to be celebrating? There are a few theories about how the holiday came to be. In the Christianized version, it is to celebrate Saint Valentine; which Saint Valentine, no one is quite certain, because there were three separate saints named Valentine, and one of these three is the reason behind this day – and none of them had a romantic life, or a peaceful death. So in the 21st century, we are still celebrating a certain holiday which we don’t know the point or the origin of. Whichever way, it is very apparent that these original reasons for celebration are no longer common knowledge, and the “true meaning” of Valentine’s Day is all but lost on modern-day society.
I’m not entirely against the day. I just don’t think it’s worth spending hundreds of dollars for heart shaped jewellery, or a box of chocolates which will end up in the bin. However, for jewellers, card manufacturers, chocolatiers and restaurant owners, Valentine’s Day is one of the most bankable days of the year – the perfect opportunity to order smoked salmon with truffle and caviar to impress your date. According to the Greeting Card Association, around 1 billion Valentine’s cards are sent throughout the world each year, which isn’t a lot fewer than Christmas. No surprise here – the only people benefiting from the holiday are card companies who have placed a market value on love, and not the lonely people having to stand watching couples thrive, while they’re watching romantic comedies.
