By Kaitlin McDowell
February is known as the season of love. Chocolates, candy hearts and flowers flood store shelves. But this short holiday season is widely debated—some people love it, celebrating their romantic relationships with gifts and flowers. Others, however, despise it, seeing it as a reminder that they don’t have a romantic partner or anyone to buy them nice chocolates.
This holiday and the ideas behind it have largely been shaped by Hallmark and the media. While there is historical significance behind Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine, the holiday became widely popular due to Hallmark’s Valentine’s Day cards. The commercialization continued in 2010 with the release of the film Valentine’s Day, which follows multiple couples and singles navigating the stereotypes of this romantic holiday.
But in reality, I think the true meaning of Valentine’s Day has been lost.
Not everyone has a romantic partner, but love exists in so many other places—with our pets, our families and, especially, our friends. Parks and Recreation coined the idea of Galentine’s Day in 2010, but I believe Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating the love of our girlfriends as well.
In her book, Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton writes, “Nearly everything I know about love, I've learned from my long-term friendships with women.” As someone in my 20s, I deeply relate to this, and I know many other women my age do too. Female friendships are complex yet rewarding. They are incredibly special—these are the women who will stand by you through thick and thin, especially during romantic struggles. So why is this holiday marketed exclusively toward couples?
This year, celebrate the amazing women in your life.
Valentine’s Day is about love, and there are no rules about what type of love should or shouldn’t be celebrated. So embrace the holiday. Buy the flowers, the candies and the heart-shaped chocolates. Write the cheesy cards. Take this day to remind the people in your life how much they mean to you.
And let’s not forget—the official colors of this holiday are pink and red, both inherently feminine. Decorate your apartment with hearts, seek out Valentine’s Day discounts at local restaurants and bake heart-shaped treats. Just make sure you’re spending the day with your friends.
FIONA MURRAY / Pexels
Comments