Valentine’s Day is a commercialized way to celebrate being in a relationship, but whether or not the tradition is worth participating in, is the question.
While Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to confess romantic feelings, it is also ridiculously overpriced. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the United States has spent an average of $18.9 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts and celebrations since 2009. To put this in perspective, the amount of money the United States has spent on Valentine’s Day could pay off the cost of attendance for over 580,000 in-state Winthrop students.
Although Valentine’s Day is expensive, it promises an entire day spent with significant others, family, and friends. It falls on a workday 71 percent of the time, however, so it can only be celebrated after business hours. For couples with young children, those who rely on public transportation, and those who work the opposite shift as their significant other, it can really put a damper on the festivities.
Why is Valentine’s Day worth celebrating? It may give couples an opportunity to shower each other with affection, but what about every other day of the year? Instead of having a tumultuous relationship and a perfect Valentine’s Day, significant others should aim to romance their partners every day — even if it seems insignificant.
Next Avenue, a subdivision of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has spoken out about how to keep the romance alive outside of February 14. Dr. Terri Orbuch, a marriage counselor, has shared the same tips with all of her clients. Putting effort into an extravagant holiday is impressive, Orbuch has stated, but making a relationship work full time is even more so.
Communication is key for any relationship. Orbuch has stated that communication impacts every aspect of a relationship, whether it’s planning a Valentine’s date or paying the bills. Couples should be open and honest with each other as much as they can to avoid misunderstandings. By not communicating, couples run the risk of having a disastrous Valentine’s Day…or worse yet, a disastrous marriage.
Small acts of love are ultimately more meaningful than the grandeur of Valentine’s Day. “Jewelry is wonderful, but a gift from the heart is so much better,” Orbuch said in her advice blog. Material gifts are nice, but they do not fully shape true love. Small things, like doing the dishes or hand making a gift, show one’s significant other that they are in it for the long run.
With the pandemic, Valentine’s Day is more difficult to celebrate than it has been in the past. Restaurants and event halls are limiting capacity — if they’re even open! Social distancing makes even outdoor events difficult, as the constant threat of being infected with COVID-19 looms over the celebration. It isn’t about the quantity of celebration this Valentine’s Day, but rather the quality. A date consisting of watching Netflix is still as romantic as a night on the town if spent with the right person.
Whether or not Valentine’s Day is worth celebrating is up to each couple to figure out for themselves. As long as it is spent with consensual partnership in mind, then what does it matter?
Photo by Olivia Esselman
