I hereby rename Valentine’s Day
Belinda Humphries
Back in Elizabethan times single ladies would pin bay leaves to their pillows on the eve of Valentine’s Day in the hope they would dream of their future spouse. How times have changed.
Nowadays we celebrate Valentine’s Day with cookie-cutter romance - flowers, chocolates and red cards with standard messages in them.
I’ll step out on a limb here and say Valentine’s Day is now based on the expectation of having our partners buy us something to show how much they care. I hereby rename Valentine’s Day to Expectations Day.
And sorry ladies, but in many cases it’s us who place such importance on what our partners do (or don’t do). All the romantic frou frou is directed at men buying for women.
Just as every relationship is different; shouldn’t the colour of love vary from couple to couple? So why is the only colour I see this week red?
For me, the fact one is expressing love for no other reason than it’s Valentine’s Day trivialises something that should be delivered with sincerity and creativity.
Deep down, I believe in romance in the realistic sense of the term. Romance is not parting with as much cash as possible. It’s not all about expensive gifts or roses unless he’s a botanist and he discovers a new breed of rose that he names after you. That’s a beautiful gesture. (Unfortunately, for all my botanist suitors out there, there is already a rose variety called “Belinda’s Dream”, so back to the drawing board, gentlemen). It’s not about chocolates and it’s not about teddy bears.
It’s about celebrating love. So why not celebrate its diversity and the fact that it comes in many different forms? True romance is spontaneous, it’s personal, it’s meaningful and it’s unique ... or am I having myself on?
I have never been one to buy presents on Valentines day because to me it seems insincere, commercially motivated and generally a horrible and thoughtless idea. I do however subscribe to the idea that this day be used to do something special with your partner. In the past, it has been picnics, beautiful breakfasts, weekends away, etc. I think it should be used to bring the couple closer, not buy them pointless gifts that whither and die.
As a side note, I would never buy a girl Roses as I find them cliched! I do love buying a girl flowers, just not Roses.
Nick of St Peters
loves it
toby of
Nice work! I agree with nick from st peters comment, we have days to celebrate birthdays, mums and dads, so why not relationships? But celebrating relationships does not have to cost big money or involve tacky dust collectors or stuff toys! However I do like flowers
Cora of Nyngan
Good point, but I do think it does remind those to appreciate their other better half, so in that sense maybe not call it Valentine’s Day, call it “I really do appreciate you so much, and this day is to celebrate that, because sometimes I forget to tell you, and might need to be reminded with a subtle hint in the form of an International day of recognition”! Yes presents are not necessary and couples should not feel they are required, but you must admit those that do receive something or celebrate with a special dinner or picnic, it is very nice indeed
Cousin CJ of Cairns
Now as a Single Gent again i do see that the whole valentine’s day thing has become yet another commercial venture .
While it is a nice feeling to buy something for the one you love ( weather it be a single rose or a car) i don’t think that you have to just because it is valentine’s day. Why not do it when it really matters to your loved one ? Not because the commercial world demands you to.
Good post Belinda. I agree whole heartedly
Matthew of Cromer
I agree, Valentines is just consumerism at it’s most greedy nowadays.
I’m getting something meaningful and cooking from the heart. Not buying expensive metal or buying crappy chocolates.Jimmy Wallins of Narrabeen
