Charlotte DeCraene
Pro
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration for couples—it’s a day to recognize love in all its forms. From family to friendships to partnerships, it’s a chance to show appreciation through thoughtful gestures like heartfelt cards and meaningful gifts. It’s also an opportunity to practice self-love through reflection, self-care, or simply appreciate your growth and accomplishments. Valentine’s Day is a reminder that love, in every form, is always worth celebrating.
You don’t always need someone to celebrate with on Valentine’s Day. Practicing self-love could be treating yourself to a favorite meal, taking a break from social media, or engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation. Just as relationships require effort, so does our relationship with ourselves. According to happiesthealth.com, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the power of self-love, noting that loving ourselves is the foundation of all healthy relationships and begins with treating ourselves with kindness, respect and understanding.
Beyond individual relationships, Valentine’s Day strengthens community ties by supporting local businesses. Bakeries, florists, and other small shops see a surge in activity during the holiday, helping boost local economies. By promoting community-focused spending, the holiday highlights the importance of supporting local businesses while celebrating love, creativity and connection. According to safnow.org, 22% of Americans purchased fresh flowers for loved ones, demonstrating the positive impact on florists. According to NFR.com, in 2024, U.S. consumers planned to spend an average of $185.81 per person on Valentine’s Day, contributing to a total of $25.8 billion in spending. This significant amount highlights the holiday’s role in encouraging people to express love and appreciation through meaningful gifts.
While Valentine’s Day can involve high spending, it doesn’t have too. Free or low-cost options like handwritten notes, homemade gifts or spending quality time together can go a long way. Baking cookies, crafting personalized cards or enjoying a walk with a loved one emphasizes the holiday spirit without requiring large expenses. These thoughtful activities remind us that love and care come from effort and intention, not just the price tag.
Valentine’s Day is more than a commercial holiday — it celebrates love, connection and community. Whether through spoiling yourself or being spoiled with grand gestures or small, heartfelt acts, it reminds us to cherish the relationships that bring love into our lives.
Con
Valentine’s Day is another commercialized money grab that detracts from other more important celebrations with family and partners. For singles, it can be a painful reminder of their loneliness, with the constant emphasis on romantic love. The holiday forces everyone to follow the same overused, cliché traditions, like buying flowers or chocolates, which leaves little room for anything meaningful or unique. It feels more like an obligation than a celebration of love, and often leaves more people hurt than happy.
As the holiday approaches, televisions and stores flood with advertisements on the next best way to buy your love to give to your valentine. Partners feel pressured to buy their spouse lavish gifts, and those with low wages feel insecure from their inability to splurge on their love. According to news.cornell.edu, 70% of Americans of varying classes stress over money management, while birthdays, anniversaries, and more sit around the corner on the calendar, the extra focus on Valentine’s Day is a bit superfluous.
Those without loved ones to celebrate with are left even more hurt from their inability to enjoy the holiday. According bonappetit.com to 55% of Americans report loneliness during the holidays approaching Valentine’s, and studies have shown that loneliness can pose a similar health risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. With the constant focus on fated romantic partnerships and surprise expressions of love during the holiday’s arrival, those unpartnered are often left waiting for a secret admirer that never comes along.
With staple gifts like jewelry and candy, and typical outings like movie theatre dates and dinners, Valentine’s Day traditions detract from creativity for people’s expressions of love. Instead of planning sporadic thoughtful outings or giving gifts to a loved one any other time of the year, the day serves as the culmination for this appreciation and comes with high expectations that are often not met. According to technicianonline.com 1 in 10 admit that an unwanted or wrong gift could result in a negative impact on the relationship, but only 38% communicated their wants.
Valentine’s Day is just another marketing scheme disguised as a holiday. It leaves lovers hurt through its unrealistic expectations and takes away from people’s creativity and true expressions of love.
