Ho Hum...Valentine's Day...
February 13th 2008 09:45
Valentines day is a day to celebrate love with our partners or loved ones. Do we have to wait until the 14th of February to celebrate this? Shouldn’t this be a spontaneous thing? …celebrated every so often instead of on a particular day?
Are we that un-romantic or *processed* that we've to be told when to say/show love?
If you were the only one in the office not to receive flowers – would you feel left-out? Would your colleagues/people in general see this as a sign of an unloving or uncaring partner? In a straw-poll of 50 -- 75% confided that they would be upset...
There is far too much expectation on us to do something on this day, whether it is giving flowers, going out to dinner or buying a gift.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
-- full article hereApproximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
Would you be jumping on the retail Valentine’s Day band-wagon this Valentine’s? If yes, what are your plans? If not, why not?
Everyday should be Valentine’s Day… - that’s just me though, the soppy romantic sap…
Photos acknowledged (from previous posts)
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
May your dreams come true and every day be a Valentine's day for you. Actually, with it being an annual event, that saves the skin of all those men who can't/don't remember anniversaries.
katyzzz
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Great entry - I'm glad you look at this day from both sides.
I think Valentine's celebrants are members of an exclusive club. Its like people with homes. If you have a house, you can enjoy it, but if you're homeless, you long for it. I hate the pressure it puts on a lot of people to have a "Valentine." I don't like that some people don't have one; a lot of girls I know enjoy (and sometimes take for granted) being courted by several guys on this particular day, however, a few people I know have never gained the privilege of receiving such attention. Valentine's Day has become evidence that romance can be exploited for extraordinary amounts of money.
As you implied, romance doesn't belong to one day.
On that note, I'm off to buy a Valentine's present, or a card or something.
Comment by linzi
BEING YOUNG AND FOOLISH
I and Me
when the travellers move in
hubby wants a baby
acid colours
sweets. i would feel a bit of an arse in work if i was the one left out ,but hey whats stopping me buying the most fabulous looking posey, of them all and sending them to myself.
could you imagine pretending to rip open the envelope, to see who they are not from. acting so suprized. im no good at lying but would do it to save face. this site is so creative and i love the chosen pics very tastfully done. bye linzi.
Comment by JoH
Yes, there is far too much expectation placed on Valentine's Day.........it's a bit like New Year's Eve......the more you expect, the more disappointed you are! My view is to drop any expectation and then if something good happens, the suprise itself will be enough!
Enjoy your day!
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
...it's when it becomes a point of contention that the day becomes dangerous, I think. When people start measuring the value of their relationship based on the value of the presents they receive.
I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a guy on my rugby team. For their anniversary, he had bought his girlfriend a bracelet and booked a dinner at one of the exclusive Sydney restaurant.
I asked him if he was looking forward to it and he morosely said 'No.'
He said that the dinner was going to cost him around $500, the bracelet was over $200, and he was going to have to get dressed up and sit there looking fancy.
I thought it was tragic that he would spend that much money and not enjoy it. Isn't that perverse?
When I suggested that he pull out of everything, he looked at me warily and said that his girlfriend would flip out. I hope that's just what he thinks and isn't actually true.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
It is that people ind an excuse to do what they sometimes cannot find time for. It allocates a time slot.
Probably a crap day for people who are dateless.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
What would upset me? A man putting one of those messages of love in the newspaper. Any man who would do that is a man that I'm dumping - it's just not right............but then I've been told I'm a cynical bitch
My favourite valentines days have been when a bunch of us who were single would have a Singles Valentines Day Dinner. No set ups or anything romantic. Just a bunch of us (guys and girls) getting together to eat dinner and drink too much. We'd have a great time - and really go to town. Flowers on the table, romantic and silly messages in the fortune cookies (that I made from scratch) just to have a laugh at the whole day. I can highly recommend it.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Me too, me too, me too.
Lara,
I don't have a problem with people just having a fun day on Valentine's, but I can't take it seriously and have never done anything for it. Growing up, no-one in my family celebrated the day, so I think that's why I tend toward thinking it's all bullshit, especially when I see people going to ludicrous expense for an unimaginitive gesture.
Me, I deliberately am 'unromantic' on the day, whatever my 'relationship circumstances'. It's very contrary but I can't help myself. Like how I purposefully eat meat on Good Friday even if I only want a salad.
Michaelie
Comment by Lourensh
Comment by What's Your Story?
What's Your Story?
So You're Getting Married
And it's true!
Still, doing something a little extra won't hurt.
Comment by Krystal
feelings
I still think it's a nice thing to do.
I passed a girl on the street to-day who was carrying a single rose, she was just a very ordinary looking girl, I commented on the rose and she was thrilled to bits and so happy that I'd said something about it to her, so I guess we should not discount the pleasure it gives to some very ordinary people, who don't get to feel special too often.
Her response to me made my day just as I had made hers. She was a sweetie.
Comment by Holly Go Lightly
Movie Mage
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Ever since I can remember - I have left each of them a long stemmed rose and a small box of chocolates on there bedside dresser before they wake up on Valentines Day - a little trite perhaps - but you like them to feel a little special on that day - no matter how commercial it is.
Bigger picture is when (if they're allowed of course) they have boyfriends/fiancee's etc - they will no doubt expect the same princess treatment.
Afterall - their dad used to to it - so any man worth his salt and interested in their heart would surely do at least similar.
As for Mrs Nice Guy?
Well she's special every day.
MNG
Comment by lourens
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Although I reckon Valentine`s Day is TOTALLY overcommecialized and that women can put a lot of pressure on their partner to make it special i don`t think it`s necesarily a bad thing.
I suppose it`s just like having a birthday really. We know everyday that we are alive but we have a day set specifically aside to celebrate the time that we first breathed life. I like to think of Valentines Day in that light - you know you love each other but it`s also nice to have a day set aside to celebrate your lives together.
Give me a hand picked flower and a home made dinner over the elaborate florist bought flowers and the overpriced restaurant meals every time!
Ash
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Thank you so much for your comments (and kind words), and for sharing your experiences.
I'm juggling too many projects at the moment, but am aiming to pop by yours as soon as I can. Meanwhile, hope u continue to enjoy reading this Blog
Thank U!