Valentine's Day is and has been one of the most controversial holidays ever. If holidays were people, Valentine's Day would be the most made fun of and hated. Many even deem it as the insignificant holiday whose purpose shouldn't even be considered a holiday. Although it is a rather strange holiday since half of the world thinks it's a great way to be tacky and act like you're in a romantic movie, and the other half despise it as they mourn for an entire day about why they're single. The only thing everyone likes about Valentine's Day is all the chocolate, the discounted candy after the day, and the funny, tacky cards you can send to your friends (now in the form of memes).
It isn't uncommon to see "Happy Singles Awareness Day!" and "Forever Alone" posts preceding the red and heart-filled day, and also single people expressing how they wish they could actually celebrate in some way. It's no secret that Valentine's Day has made those who haven't found their significant other yet feel bad, left feeling like their singleness is nothing to be proud of, when in fact, being single has so many benefits. However, it is this specific day that seems to put the focus only on couples.
I am writing this from someone who has never actually been able to celebrate Valentine's Day with a significant other. The one time I was with someone on the holiday, they were far away and were too busy to do anything other than text "Happy Valentines Day" at the end of the day. The proceeding Valentine's Days I had no better luck, meeting someone and having plans to do something get cancelled from a snowstorm, traffic, or the years where I didn't even have any plans initiated. But now I realize the insignificance of the holiday and that it's not-as-big purpose is not meant to be a day that
Valentines Day is not Christmas; it's simply a candy-filled, red and pink phenomenon. Even Christmas, I have been told that we will all spend at least one Christmas day alone, and chances are everyone in their life will have at least one or multiple Valentine's Days alone, but that's completely normal.
Valentine's Day, again, is probably one of the least significant holidays, not to derail the holiday itself, but it's only so important to so many people, and it's really only as important as we perceive it. When we were kids, we didn't even know what love was, and we liked Valentine's Day for the candy, and as a way of bonding with others. It doesn't come with family reunions, or an array of music that people start listening to a month before it, nor does it even require us to celebrate it. The Superbowl has more hangouts and good memories than Valentine's Day, and a good (at least) half of the population doesn't even care about it. But even couples don't do much on Valentine's Day, because they just see it as just another day to spend with each other, except with the small addition of chocolate and hearts.
After many, strange Valentine's Days that disappointed me years in a row, I finally realize that Valentine's Day is just a mindset, and the day you can celebrate it with someone will make it really special. Even then, Valentine's Day is not the one time a year you can show someone how much you love them. It's still not even the one time of year you can buy someone a giant teddy bear and heart filled with chocolate, and it's in no way something you'll regret doing anything on, whether or not you're in a relationship. Valentine's Day is whatever you make it, but society has ingrained in our heads that it's supposed to be the only day you can be romantic, or have someone be romantic towards you. Just because you're single on Valentine's Day doesn't mean you're not loved, but if more people realized that it's more than just appreciating your significant other, it would be a much happier day.
