Saturday, February 13, 2010

I Hate Valentine's Day

As Valentine's Day approaches, I found myself getting into the spirit of things. I even made Ari and Wil a Valentine when I was subbing in a 2nd grade classroom yesterday.


For those of you that know me well, the question marks are already going off in your minds. I don't know what happened to me. I guess the children sucked me into the holiday. I was surrounded by 2nd graders creating Valentine works of art and I succumbed to the pressure.

But then I read my friend Amber's blog about this cursed holiday, and I was reminded of who I really am. Now here's where my old friends will back me up. The question marks that were previously blinking in your minds will dissipate.

I remembered that I HATE Valentine's Day. Yes, I said it. In fact I hate it so much that one year on Valentine's Day in 2001, when I was spending a semester of college abroad in London, I dressed up in all black and walked around with a black umbrella to protest this holiday.

Why do I hate Valentine's Day so much? Because it makes people who don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/lover feel badly about themselves.

To take it a step further, it places unreasonable expectations on people who do have a significant other. For example you, as a part of a couple, are expected to do something phenomenal for your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/lover.

According to the media (which includes the greeting card companies, television, magazines and the internet) you must make fireworks go off in your apartment, light candles, have boxes of chocolate present at all times, bouquets of flawless roses on hand and be ready to provide a fantastic time in the bedroom.

Needless to say, with all these expectations, somebody is going to be disappointed. Did I mention how much I hate this holiday?

Additionally, why do we need a holiday to remind us to tell our boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/lover that we love them?
Are we that dense that we can't remember to do it ourselves?

After being brainwashed momentarily by 2nd graders, when I made those Vday cards, I am now reminded of my moral stance on this holiday. I will yell it from the hill tops:

"I HATE VALENTINE'S DAY!"
-Old School/New School Mom



15 comments:

  1. I've never really been a fan of Valentines day. I got the token card, but I almost forgot that tomorrow was Valentines Day. I don't know, I mean, I love all things pink, but my husband's birthday is the day after, and I spent like 30 bucks on various cards and the like. We don't exchange gifts. I just got an iMac for Christmas, I'd probably have to punch him in the nads for getting me a Valentines day gift.

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  2. HA HA HA HA! Good call! I want an iMac! So your husband is an Aquarius. They're good people! Valentine's day. It's ridiculous.

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  3. I wrote this about a million years ago:

    http://whydatejewish.org/valent.htm

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  4. Well, now that I know that Valentine's Day not ONLY has pagan origins connected to goat slaying, but the remainder of it's origins are ostensibly Catholic, I am even less interested in celebrating it.

    Thank you for that article Jack! I feel better about tomorrow! Now I must learn about Tu B’Av.

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  5. In the spirit of family I am embarking on celebrating every holiday and even non-holidays to encourage a sense of family and to mark the way the year goes by. I haven't always been a big fan of Valentines Day and the corporate-ness of it all but I choose to overlook that part and celebrate family and love. So there!

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  6. I agree with all you said when you were a punky youngster. Having said that, its still really sweet you made those little trinkets of love for the men who matter most to you. :)

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  7. I think that making handmade Valentines sort if is a rejection of all the corporate-ness of the holiday. If you don't buy Hallmark, you're not buying into Hallmark, I say.

    And, obviously, I am not a fan of Valentine's Day either. :)

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  8. Cordy- Thank you! I am going to stand by my punky younger beliefs.

    Dunky- I think if you derive a sense of joy from this day/holiday, go for it! But then again, Nelson is joyous no matter what!

    Kyndale- Thank you!

    Amber- Yes, the handmade stuff is much cooler than buying things in a store.

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  9. I think valentine's Day is pointless. If you love someone, then it's like having Valentine's Day EVERY day. Who needs a special day for it?? I totally agree with you that Vday makes people who dont have "a love" feel lonely and just feel bad for themselves... its so sad! Do we really need more depressed children in the world?? I SHALL PROTEST WITH YOU!

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  10. (oh... im Anonymous)

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  11. Thank you "Anonymous"! I am so glad that you have joined the protest. And it does make people feel badly. Let's just love each other every day!

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  12. I remember you dressing up in black for London V-Day! So cute.

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  13. I thought you might recall that fateful day! It was fun. I wish those boots ;)

    I also miss you Xy!!

    XOXOXO

    Your raccoon is here and the beautiful card you sent after Ari was born is on the fridge!

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