Valentine's Day: The Unnecessary Hate of the Holiday

Every February, as soon as the heart decorations and chocolate hit the shelves, the complaints start rolling in. Valentine’s Day is often called “overrated,” “cringey,” “a waste of money,” and for some, even “depressing.” But, is the hate really justified? Or, has disliking Valentine's Day just become a trend?

“I don’t think it makes sense to dislike it. It’s just a day,” said Emory Oblinger, a senior at Hoggard. “It’s special to some people, but it doesn’t have to be super special to you.” This supports my statement that Valentines Day, at its core, is optional. No one is required to celebrate it, just like no one is required to go all out for Halloween or New Year’s Eve. For some people, it’s an excuse to dress up, exchange gifts, and spend time with someone they care about. For others, it’s just another day in February.

Still, much of the hate surrounding Valentine’s Day seems to come from one's relationship status. “People only hate it because they are single,” said sophomore Piper Wendt.

While that may not be entirely true for everyone, it does reflect a common idea that Valentine’s Day highlights loneliness. Senior Ella Senter explained it this way, “Valentine’s Day, for some people, is a reminder of the fact that they are lonely, but really they aren’t lacking anything. Everything is ephemeral.”

Her comment adds a deeper meaning, too. Feelings, whether it’s loneliness or love, are temporary. A single day doesn’t define someone’s worth or relationship status. Being single on February 14th doesn’t mean someone is missing something, it just means they’re single on a random day.

Others argue the holiday simply isn’t that serious. “The hate is overdramatic,” said sophomore Holly Frizzelly. “It’s not that bad because you can just do things with your friends.”

And she’s right. Valentine’s Day has expanded beyond just relationships. “Galentine’s” celebrations, friend gift exchanges, and family dinners are all ways people celebrate love in a broader sense. It doesn’t have to be romantic dinners and expensive jewelry. Sometimes it’s just a movie night or hanging out with family.

Of course, not everyone is convinced. “Valentine’s Day is a waste of time and money,” another senior noted. And it’s true that many stores and companies over-market the holiday, encouraging people to spend money on flowers, chocolates, and gifts. Consumerism can make it feel forced or insincere. But that raises another question: is the holiday the problem or the pressure we attach to it?

If someone feels obligated to spend hundreds of dollars or plan something extravagant, it can become stressful. But Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about grand gestures. It can be as simple as texting someone you appreciate, or spending time with people who matter to you.

At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day is just a day. It means what people want it to. For some, it’s romantic. For others, it’s fun. And for a lot of us, it’s completely irrelevant.

Maybe instead of hating it, we can just let it be what it is. It's a small, pink reminder to appreciate the people we care about, whether that’s a partner, a friend, or even ourselves.