How to Stop Hating Valentine’s Day (and Maybe Use it to Your Advantage)
I’ve never understood why people get so worked up about a silly little day where people exchange boxes of chocolates and flowers, high school girls where heart-covered boxer shorts over leggings and kindergartners trade notes adorned with Ninja Turtles and Hello Kitty. These are all good things, right? So really, what’s the big deal? Why do so many people hate Valentine’s Day?
At 38 years old, I’ve been a girlfriend to many before becoming a wife for almost a decade and, quite frankly, I’ve heard every excuse in the book as to why Valentine’s Day was somehow created by the devil himself. Well, it’s time to discredit the common clichés that often seep from the mouths of those of you who find yourselves unprepared on Valentine’s morning, only to encounter a very disappointed significant other who deserved a little more effort on your part.
The purpose of this column is to not only debunk the most common excuses for hating Valentine’s Day but also to provide some specific ideas for celebrating the occasion by including a few dining specials, events and gift ideas around Temecula Valley. There are even a few ideas for the singles out there to have some fun of their own because, as far as I’m concerned, Valentine’s Day doesn’t discriminate.
I’m not here just to guilt you into tolerating the day that annually ignites anxiety and dread, but I’m also here to help you actually (gasp) enjoy yourself and welcome cupid’s company for just one red and pink-filled night. So, just humor me for a few pages, will you? It will save you some planning time and may very well be saving your relationship in the process.
Excuse 1: Valentine’s Day was created by the greeting card and candy companies as a way to make us buy their product.
Saint Valentine’s Day originated as a celebration of the Christian Saint Valentinus, and there are several myths and legends linking the “Feast of Saint Valentinus” to February 14th. The day became associated with romantic love in 18th Century England, where lovers began expressing their feelings through flowers, confectioneries and yes, cards known as valentines.
I’ll spare you all the boring historic details but, in all the (albeit brief) research I did on the subject, there was no mention of a Mr. Hallmark or Mrs. Sees conspiring together to sell their wares. So, there is historical significance behind this holiday, although meaningless in our daily lives, but I seriously doubt you read the story of Saint Patrick before guzzling green beer in the Killarney’s parking lot.
Next page: “Valentine’s Day is forcing me to buy expensive gifts.”
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