Valentine’s Day sparks different reactions each year, especially when it comes to its impact on relationships. Some view the holiday as a meaningful opportunity to celebrate love in all its forms, while others see it as a source of pressure shaped by expectations and commercialization.
This head-to-head explores both perspectives, inviting readers to consider how Valentine’s Day influences modern relationships.
Mackenzie Robb – Valentine’s Day is worth celebrating all types of relationships
Love is in the air. Pink and red fill store displays. Stuffed animals and chocolates are everywhere. Valentine’s Day is a holiday centered on spreading love.
While expectations for Valentine’s Day may have shifted, the core meaning of the holiday remains the same. The day focuses on showing appreciation for the people you care about. It does not have to be romantic — love can be shared with friends and family as well.
Valentine’s Day does not have to be centered on spending money. A simple celebration can still show someone you care.
Consider Galentine’s Nights. While they may include decorations, those items can be inexpensive, and everyone can contribute snacks. These gatherings often include crafts or movie nights. Rather than extravagant parties, Galentine’s celebrations are girls celebrating their friendships.
The main objective of Valentine’s Day is to spread love — a tradition introduced during childhood. Students exchange Valentines and candy with classmates. That tradition can continue into adulthood by showing appreciation for loved ones.
Like other holidays, Valentine’s Day is about celebration. Christmas is often associated with gift-giving, while Easter is celebrated with baskets and eggs. Most holidays include expressions of joy through giving. It is the extra mile to show you care for someone.
Gift-giving doesn’t have to be over the top. As clichéd as it is to say, the thought is what counts. Small gifts like handmade notes, small crafts or flowers are a great way to show love. Gifts don’t have to be grand to show your appreciation.
Alfonso Rubio – Valentine’s Day is the death of relationships
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that, on paper, looks completely harmless, but a very ugly and sad truth hides behind the scenes every Feb. 14.
Every year, couples go out of their way to make their Valentine’s Day special with gifts, romantic dates and chocolates with flowers. That in itself is not harmful, but I can’t help but notice that the inclusion of a designated “romance day” can often expose underlying issues in a couple’s relationship.
Studies show that relationships are more likely to end within the two weeks surrounding Valentine’s Day compared to other times of the year due to the reevaluation of romantic relationships.
During that reevaluation stage, couples realize that their partner isn’t as romantic as they would like. The idea of having one day of the year being set apart for your partner to act romantically is so undervaluing the concept of romance.
Outside of undervaluing the concept of romance, Valentine’s Day can also be detrimental to the mental health of those trying to perform well for their partner. It’s one of the most commercialized holidays in the United States, with advertisements for consumerism being thrown in your face.
It’s estimated that there will be a whopping $29.1 billion spent on Valentine’s Day this year. The holiday demands high performance, costly gifts and cultural expectations to be met, which circles back to exposing underlying issues in couples’ relationships.
The day of “love” is a stressful holiday with little to no pros. Valentine’s Day has the potential to be something great, but the expectations and consumerism surrounding it have plagued romance as a whole.
