Valentine’s Day – The Marmite Holiday

 With Valentines Day fast approaching I play Cupid and consider the different attitudes towards all things romance…

Another year has flown by and we are once again suffocated with cringey cards, tacky teddies, and red roses. After hearing various opinions throughout the week, it has become clear that the attitudes towards Valentine’s Day are split down the middle. So, what has made Valentine’s Day the marmite holiday of the year?

Valentine’s Day is the most popular day for marriage proposals and with billions spent on the holiday around the world it has certainly become a day that is unavoidable. It seems that if you’re loved up then February 14^th is an exciting day of getting spoilt and a chance for a bit of romanticism. For those firmly situated in Singleville the sight of a smushy Valentine’s Day card will probably make you nauseas and kindly remind you of your current relationship status. Yet if you’re dating or ‘seeing’ someone then the day can be a bit ambiguous. It could be flirting over flowers or a one way ticket to Awkward Avenue.

However, it’s said that chivalry is dead. Long gone are the days of courtly love, where romanticism and courteousness were morals maintained by the men of the Dark Ages. Many women today feel that a traditional, romantic man is near impossible to find. Maybe we expect too much due to a lifetime of Rom-Coms, love stories, or the Cinderella fairytales we are told when we are little girls.

Some people hate Valentine’s Day so much that they have declared themselves as ‘Anti-Valentinists’. For them, the idea of being forced to express love on a specific day renders it fake. The stance towards Valentine’s Day is so varied that 14^th February now shares its 24 hours with another day; Singles Awareness Day, commonly known as SAD. Many people believe that Valentine's Day is just a made up holiday by greeting card companies to make a quick profit. With an average spend of over £2 on cards and £12million buyers it certainly does just that.

But so what? One day out of the year which is dedicated to being in love should be celebrated. We all lead busy lives so why not use it as an excuse to go out for dinner, see a show, or just have a few drinks? Take romance off it’s life support machine and do something to revive it. Whether your Facebook status is set to single or not just do something fun. Even if you are single go out with your friends and celebrate that. Whatever your stance on Valentine’s Day it’s going to happen, and it will be back next year too.

So here are a few coping tips whether you’ve been hit with Cupid’s arrow or not:

RED LIGHT – If you’re in a relationship then spend the night celebrating it by taking your loved one out for dinner, send a card, and buy some flowers. If you think it’s all a money making scam then stay in and make a night of it without wasting money. It can only be positive to do something thoughtful for your partner. The closer you are to someone, the greater the gesture should be. For some this may mean gifts, but for others simple thoughtfulness can work wonders. Everyone deserves to feel special once in a while, especially the one you love.

IT’S COMPLICATED!? – If you’re in the uncertain phase of ‘seeing’ someone and it isn’t that serious then it could easily get awkward. Chances are you’re not that close yet, so don’t go overboard for fear of scaring them off, but at the same time don’t ignore it. Take a chilled approach to the day and causally suggest a date. If you’ve already gone on a few dates together then it’s only another day in the year whether it’s 14^th of Feb or not. Just be confident, it could be the start of something special.

SINGLE SOUL – If you’re single, whether you’re happy about it or not, use it as an excuse to have some fun. Plan a night with your mates, stay in and have a few drinks. It doesn’t have to be a day of dread so snack on some chocolate and enjoy being free. Anyway you never know, Cupid could be just around the corner.