I've been trying to make sense of February 14th for many years now. Why have one day a year to show your love when you have 365 of them? Over-priced roses, over-priced cards, over-priced chocolates, over-priced 'set menus' (you don't even get the full choice). There seems to be some correlation here.
Other than the burning hole left in many a man's wallet (and the odd women), it simply makes no sense. Why have a day to celebrate all things 'love' on a cold, wet, dismal day in February. Most have only started to claw back their debt from Christmas when this most manufactured of days is put upon us.
So you buy the card, you buy the flowers, you go for the meal. Does this show your everlasting love? Does this mean that it is simply meant to be? Of course not. Your simply toeing the line, doing what is expected. Through tradition, marketing, advertising, whatever, this is just the norm. Isn't being romantic being spontaneous, giving or doing something because you really want to, not forced by a sense of obligation? If so why do we continue to embrace this day?
I thought I was right in thinking that Valentine's Day is exclusive to couples. However, in this last week I have been severely enlightened. One such enlightenment is the holiday alternative - Singles Awareness Day, or SAD. Created as a humerous alternative to the commercialism of Valentine's Day, single people gather to celebrate or commiserate their single status, often greeting people "Happy SAD!" Strange I admit, but on the surface looks a lot more fun, and more importantly a lot less expensive.
A lot of my single friends have even cited February 14th as 'easy pickings night', implying that as a singleton, going out in seek of love and companionship (whether it be just for that night or your lifetime) is almost guarranteed to bring success. One such friend put it as; "Everyone just wants a bit of attention, and I work on the basis of supply and demand". Supply and demand maybe, but is this really the intention and true meaning (if any) behind Valentine's Day?
In America, Valentine's Day is tagged a 'Hallmark Holiday', a holiday that exists primarily for commercial purposes. So we can chuck in Father's Day and Mother's Day to that collection then too. Days such as these may on the surface seems valuable, and may indeed make many a people happy and content.
Yet what we should all realise is that they are a breeding ground for commercialsim, and we should try to make the most out of these days without breaking the bank. Yes it is important to show your love and appreciation, whether it be for your partner, your mother, your father, whoever. However lets not just save it all for that one day, then maybe there might be a little less 'supply and demand' from everyone.
1 comment:
I really like this - you've got a nice style/approach for opinion writing - it's also conversational enough for a blog.
I like the fact that you added an extra web dimension to the basic piece - it might have been interesting to add more on the whole SAD thing.
I think there are a few little errors here - puncuation, spelling, typos that you could fix, but overall, well done.
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