It’s that time of the year where the love letters, red roses and gifts come out in full force. The feast of Saint Valentine is a day of romance where lovers celebrate their bond with the exchanges of greetings and joy. It is a day that blooms with hearts, cupid’s arrows and hugs and kisses. As much as this holiday is a special day for romantic lovers, this holiday should also be appointed for all types of relationships.
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be considered a holiday to catch the love interest of others; it should be regarded as a celebration of love and affection with family, friends, pets or even yourself. It shouldn’t be geared towards romantic partners only. Wouldn’t this be the same as having a date or anniversary with someone? There is no need to search for a relationship to have a fun time when you have people around you that love you already.
This holiday can put too much pressure on people who feel that they need to have the romantic interest of others. A person should be able to choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day with whomever they please, so that there is no need to feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness on a loving holiday.
Additionally, Valentine’s Day can also trigger unhappy memories from past relationships that went downhill. Some may not wish to celebrate it with romance but can celebrate it with the affectionate joy of friendship, family and self-care. Overall, a beautiful reminder is that you don’t have to be in a romantic relationship to be happy and content.
Brandy Manasilp is communication major freshman who strongly feels that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be a day of romance.