Valentine’s Day: Showing Love, for the Right Price

Photo Courtesy/ Pixabay Valentine's Day has become a commercialized holiday that creates unrealistic expectations.

Lynne McGee

Staff Writer

Is Valentine’s Day Worth the Pressure for Couples? 

Everyone knows the familiar feeling in the air during the month of February, spending! 

Valentine’s day is a holiday for couples, and even friends to share their love and appreciation for others, but is that really what it’s about? 

In recent years, Valentine’s day has been known as a “spending holiday” and not so much for love. Many people have different opinions about what Valentine’s day truly is, whether it just be a spending holiday for couples, or to show affection. 

People shared their views on Valentine’s day expectations: 

“There are serious expectations on what couples are supposed to do for Valentine’s day. It turns into spending for the best gift and going out to an expensive dinner, but people don’t have that money,” said Paige Milio.“College students don’t have that type of money, but if you don’t do these things it seems bad.”  

Is this what the holiday has come to? 

Most people cannot afford what is expected of them on this expensive day. Why are there expectations from others on couples?

It doesn’t seem like love drives this day anymore. 

When asking about the extravagant gifts and dates that come along with V-day, people seemed to think society is what drives them. 

“I think it’s society’s expectations that drive couples to do over-the-top things. It seems so commercialized and not about love. It seems like a spending game,” said sophomore, Erica DeLuca.“I found myself wanting to buy the best gift for my boyfriend because if I didn’t, I’d look bad. He would’ve loved anything I got him, but it seemed like I put the pressure on myself because I didn’t want the judgment of others.”

However, it seems more couples are opting for a cheaper night home, than an expensive night out. 

Each year the bar is set higher, competing for the affection of others. 

Valentine’s day is supposedly celebrated to show love for your significant others, but are expensive gifts and dinner truly it? 

One couple said they did not plan it, but they spent the night home with take-out instead of going out: 

“My girlfriend ended up really sick on Valentine’s day. We both said no to gifts, which took a big weight off my shoulders, but rather spend more money on a decent dinner. She had gotten really sick and we stayed home with food instead,” said Nathaniel Torres. “It was better for both of us. There was no rush to get there on time or to look nice, it really was just the two of us. I think we liked more than if we had gone out.” 

Valentine’s day, according to various couples on campus, has become a societal expectation instead of enjoying the company of the person’s significant other. 

Is there any way to fix this? Is Valentine’s day just another drowned out holiday dictated by the amount people spend?

Email Lynne at:

Lmcgee1@live.esu.edu