Some people immediately dismiss Valentine's Day as the "Hallmark Holiday." They say it's all about the money and think they are being pressured to show love by consumerism. I completely disagree.
This is the one holiday that pretty much every person can celebrate, no matter what their religion or background, and it has one message: "I love you." In order to celebrate it, you do not HAVE to buy cards or gifts or candy. I would even argue that you are less obligated to spend money on these things on Valentine's day than you are on Christmas. You don't get Valentine's day wish lists like you do on Christmas - you don't even have a list of people that you HAVE to wish a Happy Valentine's Day. It is entirely up to you how big or how little you want the day to be - and that is a beautiful thing.
Even more beautiful, is that you can freely show your love (fraternal of course) on this day without expecting anything back and without making the other person feel bad for not getting something for you. You can freely express your love and appreciation for other people without it being weird or uncomfortable. You can say "Happy Valentine's Day" to a barista while getting your morning coffee and it just sends a little love out into the world. No big deal. The barista won't say, "I don't believe in Valentine's Day." And your next conversation won't even have to be, "So how was your Valentine's Day?"
It is a day that can be celebrated completely, entirely in one day and then completely and entirely forgotten. It is a day that you can celebrate with other people who aren't even celebrating it and both parties will be happy.
And because it is not an obligatory holiday, if someone chooses to think of you on Valentine's Day, in whatever small or big way, you feel all the more loved.
It's such a human, normal, understandable concept and you can express it in any way you want. You can just say "I love you." Or you can just spend time with the people you love. So simple. So wonderful. And it has always been my favorite holiday.
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