Do you participate in Valentine's Day or is it just a commercial scam to get us to spend money?
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every ceremony have multiple faces. its origins can be traced back to historical events. its resistance can be traced back to lovers natural interest in being kind toward each other and the publicity it receives can be a function of its commercial benefits.
Well said!
Whether it be a commercial scam or not, I think it is up to us if we want to make the day special or not.
I agree, it is what we make it.
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Of course it's a commercial venture . . . but I STILL participate in St Valentine's Day. There are a lot of people who need a romantic jolt in their lives. Men in particular are notorious for thinking that one gesture will seal the romantic deal for always. If that were the case, then every woman would only have to make love once to her man and that should hold him. Get it? Anyway . . . what's wrong with a kick in the pants to make someone think about who they love? You don't have to buy diamonds. No one really needs to eat chocolate, but the thought is great and everyone can share a loving idea. Everyone gets a nice feeling from Xmas, St Valentine's the same thing. You have to decide personally, how commercial you're gonna make it.
I asked this question mostly on a whim just to see what people would say but I've been wonderfully rewarded with the well-thought out answers I've gotten. I love your take on this, Octavia!
It has BECOME a commercial scam to suck money out of people at a slow-sales time of year. St. Valentine was a martyr, not a lover, and the association of his name with romantic love happened during Victorian times. I have never celebrated V-Day because I feel it only serves to make those without significant others feel wretched, and puts an incredible amount of pressure on those who *do* have love in their lives. I really wish there was a "Day of Togetherness" whose purpose was to strengthen your relationships, rather than pelt them with overpriced trinkets and mediocre chocolates.
A "Day of Togetherness", great idea!
When Bernd and I first met, we gave each other all sorts of little love trinkets all the time. :) We were just so exuberantly in love. As time has gone by the near frenzy of it has mellowed and we revel in the love and understanding that we share. But the reveling does not extend to spending money on Valentine's Day.
Unfortunately, I feel that many holidays are promoted for the sheer commercialism of them. I feel that people would be better off to profess their undying love more often than once a year! And it doesn't have to be with gifts, chocolate or a dinner out at some fancy restaurant.
Love is in the little things that you do on a regular basis. The consideration you show. The foibles ignored. Moving quietly around the house as your husband naps. Turning off the television as your wife takes a relaxing bath. Simple honest caring.
But that doesn't mean that I might not make a card for him or cook his favorite meal. I just don't feel that it's required. I don't feel forced. And so it is done out of love and for love.
Ahh Diane, I so appreciate your thought process here. "Love is the little things you do on a regular basis", yes!
I don't mind observing Valentine's Day personally, as you said, but I think if my relationships rise or fall based on what I do on this one day a year, I'd say it was in trouble to begin with.
I don't care how much the commercial scammers have exploited Valentine's Day, Jean, they can never ruin it for me, they can't even touch the special place it has in my heart. I think it's romantic and gorgeous and has a sprinkling of magic to it!
Jen, you are a romantic! I was waiting for someone to really go to bat for Valentine's Day! May yours be full of magic!
Total Answers: 7, Total Page Views: 389.I love Valentine's Day because it's a day when you can spend a little bit of time making a lot of people happy. This year I purchased little decorated boxes from one of the hobby shops. They were so cute, about the size of a container you would get when you order Chinese food, only they had cut-outs covered in plastic so you could see inside the box. The outside was decorated in hearts and then there was a red ribbon on each, with a name tag.
I filled up the little boxes with as much candy as they would hold and gave the little boxes to people that I don't normally purchase gifts for; the mail carrier, the person that delivers to my home, etc, in addition to all the little kids. They were perfect for the kids because it gave them a selection of candies, without giving them way too much sugar.
My husband and I always make a big deal out of Valentine's Day and we generally purchase gifts for our two sons and their spouses. We caught one, but we still need to do something for the one that's out of state [I'm excellent at purchasing, but not very good at mailing].
I remember when I was a kid in school and we would get all these valentine cards from each of the students and how it was a day to look forward to because you never knew what would be written on the cards :)
For a few years I was sad on Valentine's Day because for as long as I care to count, I always received a valentine card from my father and from a friend and both are now deceased, so for a few years there was a hint of sadness associated with the day.
Thank goodness that period has passed. I still think of both my father and my friend on Valentine's Day, but with warm and happy memories, rather than sad thoughts.
If I could use one word to describe Valentine's Day it would have to be JOY - it's a day that brings JOY and if it's just a commercial scam, to get us to spend money, we should have more days like it :)
These are lovely thoughts, Patricia!
Thank you Jean.
PJ
Thank you Jean.
PJ
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