Here it comes! Another Couples' Holiday. Single women usually dread them, of course, but a lot of couples I know choose not to celebrate Valentine's Day. It's the same as New Year's Eve -- what do you do? Where do you go? What do you get? There's just too much pressure. The fact is, the choice is yours whether or not you do the whole flowers-chocolate-dinner-and-tender-sex-making routine.So why do I wish someone would take the damn day off the calendar? Maybe I'm a cynic. Maybe I'm cold and jaded. Maybe there's something wrong with me. But honestly? I think I'm the sane one here. Here's why ...
All My Single Ladies
Let's start with the obvious. Whether you're 6 or 96, if you don't have a valentine, you feel it acutely. It's a holiday that excludes so many and makes a lot of people feel bad and left out. Sure, for some of us it's an excuse to act bitter and eat ice cream, but there are actually hurt feelings on this stupid, stupid day.
Relegating Love to One Day a Year
No, I don't! I'm deeply and passionately in love with my adorably sweet and talented boyfriend. Perhaps it's my independent spirit, but I don't need to be reminded by the local news to celebrate our love. We do it every day with every hug, every kiss and every tender touch. If you need a holiday to get flowers or candy for your girl or guy, or to take your lover to dinner, then you need to do some serious soul searching.
The Ugly Truth
The whole thing is TACKY. I hate the pink and red sh**. It's ugly! Stuffed animals holding big red hearts, Mylar balloon bouquets, those shitty pink panties with silly hearts and slogans on them that peel off and crack in the dryer. Landfills are already full of this crap at this point. Save the planet by not buying cheap ugly Valentine's Day crap that you're just going to throw away.
Hallmark Won't Get You Laid
A card has never gotten anyone laid EVER. It's a fact. They're a waste of paper and money and have sentiments written by someone else. Save the planet, send a dirty, filthy, raunchy, mind-blowing, boner-inducing sext instead. Now THAT'S something we can work with ... and WILL, in fact, get you laid.
Step Away From the Chocolates
Oh good, the winter holidays are over. Guess we need another excuse to eat candy and cupcakes at the office! Come on. We're a nation of fatties. I don't need a huge, ugly box of heart-shaped chocolates ruining my diet for a week. You know half of the chocolates in that box are just gross. (Lemon creme? Nobody likes lemon creme!) I just don't want it. Again, I'd go for the dirty sext.
Everybody Loves Flowers
But what about the flowers you ask? Look, my boyfriend gets me flowers on occasion. For no reason at all -- and that's the best way to get them. It means so much more when I come home from a long day and there are just some beautiful flowers sitting on the dining room table. Just because. If this is the ONLY day of the year you bring flowers to your sweetheart, you are lame. End of story.
Kitchen Nightmares
Restaurants on Valentine's Day are packed with couples eating expensive dinners they can't really afford and probably don't want to pay for anyway. If you have a job, it's a total chore to come home, get dressed up and go to dinner. If you're unemployed, you can't afford it. My boyfriend and I eat together every day, the last thing we want to do is go to a crowded restaurant and overpay for some silly candlelit prix fixe. Again, this holiday is completely centered around getting you to spend money. We're a broke nation! Who needs it?
Look, Valentine's Day just doesn't make sense -- especially during a recession. Not to mention love is not about cheaply manufactured pink and red stuff. It's not about chocolate or balloons, slutty panties or even flowers (though flowers are always nice). It's really just a holiday manufactured by greeting-card companies, candy vendors and restaurants to separate you and your lover from your money. If you have someone you love in your life, celebrate that person every day, and let's do away with this silly holiday.
CJ Arabia is a blogger, crafter and regular contributor. Her first-person blog runs Fridays on Lemondrop.




















Comments:
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Wednesday 10 February
By Laura S
I couldn't agree more!! (on every point)
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Wednesday 10 February
By Marcia
I totally agree although I like pink and red hearts. But yes, down with V-Day.
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Wednesday 10 February
By Crisann
Totally agree - with you, and can we do away with Sweetest Day as well? I do dig slutty panties though...
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Thursday 11 February
By lswannygrl
You forgot to mention how awkward the day is if you are in a new relationship...talk about pressure!!
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Thursday 11 February
By vinny
perfect
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Thursday 11 February
By lacheraqui
i got no one. i got nothing. gimme chocolate and leave me alone.
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Thursday 11 February
By Nancy
I agree completely! I have hated Valentine's Day when I was in relationships and when not. It is a "holiday" of consumption and I don't need it.
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Thursday 11 February
By caraJ
Amen sista!
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Thursday 11 February
By prufrock
Yup. So true, in all points, CJ. The restaurant thing especially... gah!
I have been lucky in life to have had the attention of a few women here and there, but I don't recall ever having an enhanced experience because Commerce told me that on this date the whole enchilada will be so much better. And those stupid knickers-- so pathetic, it can't be made ironically amusing. If I unwrapped a woman and found those I think it would be the equivalent of discovering a Hanson
CD on her player. This "holiday" is so artificial it makes me kinda queasy.
But one other mark against it: It is awful to kids-- average kids, quiet kids, kids with social graces that aren't top-notch. When I was a kid, it was like the Olympic® medal-count. I did all right with my haul, maybe not the most, but certainly a good pile. But what about the good kids who didn't attract as many "Valentines?" Smushing little egos is a crappy by-product of a stupid fake "holiday."
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Thursday 11 February
By Colin M
I've always been wary of corporate created holidays, and agree with a whole bunch of this. However, it's tough when you have a significant other who is looking forward to the flowers and the dinners, even though I do the occassional flower surprise and we make dinner all the time.
I did get a chuckle over the 'sex making', though :)
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Thursday 11 February
By DrCastellanos
Absolutely agree. Valentine's Day is one of those holidays really mushroomed by capitalism in order to sell stuff. It's interesting that many both givers and receivers have come to accept this expectation of giving flowers or chocolate or jewelry. It actually means more to someone when gifts like those are given at other times in the year (when they are not expected), because that demonstrates a genuine desire to give rather than giving diluted by a social expectation to give. There is so much more to love and relationships other than Feb 14th!
http://ReclaimYourSexuality.blogspot.com
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Thursday 11 February
By Dawn
I hate valentine's day. I've never liked it. We celebrated when we first got together but it always just seemed weird to me and it seemed unbalanced. There's not a lot gift-wise I can get my man for valentine's day and he's stuck buying me expensive flowers, gifts, and a dinner. Now, we just choose this day to go to a restaurant we wouldn't normally go to. I make sure that there isn't a special "valentine's" menu that fucks up what we want to go and we get out of the house (which typically we don't do much otherwise). We also both enjoy the dinners so that works out. But gifts and stupid cards are OUT!
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Friday 12 February
By Weathergirl
Thank you! Someone finally gets it.
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Friday 12 February
By Bonnie Jedell
I feel exactly the same way!!! So tacky I know it is just to get you to spend money, I don't like any holidays they are all the same. tacky and stupid and do make some people sad.
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Friday 12 February
By Edie
take it or leave it.
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Friday 12 February
By Geoff
wrong. a surprise hallmark card got me a little something something last valentine's day. high fives for being single... and thoughtful.
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Saturday 13 February
By Page Larkin
Au contraire...I love the day ~
Here’s the great thing about Valentine’s Day: you can send valentines (snail mail, e-mail, text, hire the airplane that pulls the banner) to everyone you know, have a light (or heavy) crush on, or perhaps were crushed by.
Keep it light, always err on the side of light – helium light.
February 14th is the best day of the year to throw caution to the wind and send fun and flirty salutations/valentines. Keep it simple, sweetie: suggest going for a hike, meeting for coffee, tea or a glass of bubbly. It’s good for your heart. Blame Cupid.
Say Cupid made me do it~
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Saturday 13 February
By lampton
SADE will solve all your relationship whoa's.
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Sunday 14 February
By Trevor
Wow, I'm really surprised by all of the women who get it about v-day! Thank you ladies for seeing the light!
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Sunday 14 February
By lori5462
OMG...I love this article. I think I might copy and paste it to my husband. I had the chocolates conversation with him once before and again, I get chocolates. I have struggled with weight issues all of my life. This is like giving a recovering alcoholic a bottle of whiskey. Flowers? Really? My cat chews them because I can't find a place that he can't get to. Stuffed bear with a heart? I'm almost 48 yrs old!!! I don't mean to sound like an ungrateful wife. Luckily I have a good friend and two sons who understand and feel the same way LOL
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