Valentine’s Day is a renowned celebration of love, but for a long time it has also been an expensive investment for couples. However, recent trends have shown a change in the way newer generations have been commemorating their love. From heartfelt messages to eco-friendly gifts, Valentine’s Day is changing; it doesn’t always have to break the bank.
While the origin of Valentine’s Day is difficult to pinpoint, it is said to originate from the Roman festival of Lupercalia when Pope Gelasius forbade the festival replacing it with St. Valentine’s Day. The root of its name is unclear, but a popular theory is when emperor Claudius outlawed marriage for young men because he thought married men made terrible soldiers, a Priest named St. Valentines secretly married couples to prevent men from going to the Roman war.
The holiday did not become romanticized until the 14th century and grew in popularity when Shakespeare mentioned Valentine’s Day in his work. Since becoming a widely known holiday, relationship status has been expressed through gifts. However, love can also be demonstrated in other ways.
“In my opinion, a handwritten note has way more value than some expensive bag or jewelry,” said Destiny Arciniega, 12.
According to the Statista survey in 2022 about why people do not celebrate Valentine’s day, it was found that 47% of couples do not celebrate it because it was too commercialized.
Couples may feel stressed and often overwhelmed with the decision of what to get their significant other for Valentine’s Day. Companies push their newly decorated products with red and pink heart themes. Jewelry brands adorn bracelets, necklaces, and rings with heart-shaped designs and gems that glisten, even though the price itself may not be pretty.
“If you don’t get them a lot, or don’t do the same as last year and put thought into the gifts, it seems like you’re doing less,” said Austyn Hughes, 12. “It always feels like you have to do more and better compared to what you’ve done before, or compared to what other people do.”
Marketing campaigns play a significant role in shaping this holiday, often influencing how people choose to celebrate their love amongst widely spread commercial messaging. As soon as New Years comes to an end, retailers shower consumers with advertisements which promise the perfect gifts that will guarantee affection for 50% off.
“Not everyone is in the same financial situation. Some people have had to save up in advance in order to buy something special for their person, to prove their love,” said Sophia Garcia, 12. “Valentine’s Day should be a more personal holiday between you and your person and not about the expensive gifts you get.”
