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A Valentine’s Day Hater

Makenzie White

Chocolate, flowers, and couples. That’s what I thought of when anyone would mention Valentine’s Day.
While it’s only one day a year. Cha-Cha estimates that people will give out 14.7 billion dollars in gifts on Valentine’s Day.
It is clear that whether people like the “hallmark holiday” or not, it is nationally celebrated and it is great for the businesses.
However, I must confess that I was one of the haters of Valentine’s Day for a while. I thought that it was a superficial “hallmark holiday” that didn’t deserve half of the attention that it got.
While today it is all about the gifts and the way you will spend the day with your significant other, it wasn’t always like this.
The holiday started in order to honor St. Valentine. He was known for his acts of affection and for giving out gifts that soon would be known as valentines.
However, it is clear that the holiday has come a long way and in some ways has strayed from its initial meaning.
When you are little Valentine’s Day was a huge deal. Schools often had parties and students would bring in valentines. Then, when it was time, everyone would pass out their valentines. often putting them into paper bags that the kids had already decorated. It was a day that kids got to eat a little too much candy.
Yet, the older you get the less the holiday stays about candy. As kids grow older, there are no more class parties and no more handing out valentines to everyone in the class. Usually around middle school kids can start giving the valentines to whomever they choose.
Then the worrying starts. Will I get a valentine? What if I don’t get any? Who do I give them to? What if I give one to someone and they don’t give me one?
At this point Valentine’s Day has become a lot more complicated.
As you get even older and enter into the years of high school the holiday changes once again.
Now, there is a relationship aspect. The day has truly become about your boyfriend, girlfriend, or  crush. It’s all about what you will get that one special person.
And as all the single ladies (and guys) know, if you don’t have that special someone, you are constantly reminded of that fact. This is the main reason people hate Valentine’s Day.

However, I have come to a realization that has been lost over the years.Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate the people you love; whether it is your boyfriend/girlfriend, your fiancé, your spouse, your family, or your friends.

This day was not a day invented to torture people and make them miserable. It was a day made to remind us all to be thankful of those we love, no matter who they are.
So this Valentine’s Day I challenge you to look past the superficial meaning and to embrace the holiday for what it was meant to be.

2 thoughts on “A Valentine’s Day Hater

  1. Mrs. Flaherty February 23, 2012 at 10:47 am

    Bravo! Makenzie, I love the way you reframe what can be a stressful occasion for so many by reminding us of the original intent of the day, as well as redefining with which people the day should be celebrated : )

  2. Makenzie White March 31, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    thank you!

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