Valentine’s Day has become more about gifts and less about love.
We all remember decorating tissue boxes in elementary school and handing out paper valentines to all of our classmates. The sheer joy that one felt when they received a simple card or lollipop was insurmountable. It made us feel loved and taught us to spread love as well.
However, could you imagine what someone would do now if their significant other just handed them a lousy card on Valentine’s Day? Most people would be disappointed, and that is mainly because modern day society has lead us all to believe that the amount of love that one feels for another is determined by the value and extravagance of their gifts. That’s messed up.
Come on, did Travis Scott really need to get Kylie Jenner four giant heart-shaped rose archways for V-Day last year? She posted a picture to Instagram and then probably left them all to rot. Last year I gifted my boyfriend a Bang Energy drink and he gave me Sour Patch candy, we were both extremely happy that we even gifted each other anything at all. Then again, we aren’t self-made billionaires.
I’m not trying to argue that gifts are altogether unnecessary because it’s always nice to receive a gift from someone you love, it shows that they care. A little box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers is the perfect gesture to remind someone of how much you love them. But if you need some type of grand gesture from your significant other in order for them to prove their love for you, then you’ve got some insecurities to work out.
Companies love to capitalize on the idea that Valentine’s Day is like a mini Christmas. Their shelves are stocked with teddy bears, chocolates, and candies weeks in advance so nobody will forget the importance of buying their significant other a gift. Why does the celebration revolve around the gift? Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day of appreciation for your loved-ones, a day to give you an excuse to be together and remind you why you love one-another.
A VHS student who has elected to remain anonymous expressed, “I believe [Valentine’s Day] has become more about spending money on objects to give to your [significant other] than spending time with them.”
On the other hand, some couples do agree to keep their celebrations more low-key and less over-the-top. Senior Wendi Montejano explained, “I have seen so many people do things that may seem ‘simple’ yet mean the world to their significant other like writing them a letter…I don’t think it’s materialistic unless someone chooses to go all out, which is not bad. It’s all a choice.”
At the end of the day, whether you enjoy grand, romantic Valentine’s Day gestures or not, never forget that you should love your significant other for who they are, not for the gifts that they give you.
