Who Says You Need a Date? Valentine’s Day Your Way.

Well… it’s a new year, and new experiences have arrived. Whether or not you follow sports, it’s an exciting time to be a fan. However, there is one major holiday that isn’t sports-related—it’s always the first big holiday of the year and is viewed in two very different ways depending on your relationship status. That holiday is Valentine’s Day—a celebration of love for some and a corporate cash grab for others.

The Secret History of Valentine's Day

The history of the holiday itself has 2 theories the first is to commemorate the anniversary of Saint Valentine's death which was around 270 A.D, while other theories claim it was to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia which was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus which involved animal sacrifices, women and croplands being slapped with animal hides dipped in blood, and marriage by matchmaking.

This survived the rise of Christianity but was outlawed because it was deemed “un-Christian” it was not until the end of the fifth century when Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine's Day and it was not long before it was associated with love. During the Middle Ages in France and England, it was believed that this day was the start of the bird's mating season, which reinforced the idea of the day being associated with romance which was first recorded in 1375 by Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem “Parliament of Foules.”

This was also the time when Valentine’s greetings were popular although they didn’t appear until after 1400, with the oldest known Valentine still in existence was a poem by Charles, Duke of Orleans sent to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Several years later it is theorized that King Henry V had a valentine written by John Lydgate for Catherine of Valois.

The modern version of valentine’s day we know and love, started in the early 1700s in addition to the U.S, it is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, France and Australia with the UK starting to celebrate the holiday in the 17th century. By the 18th century it was common to share tokens of affection on that day. In 1840, however, Esther A. Howland started mass producing elaborate valentines with real lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures. By the 20th century printed cards started to replace written letters because of their cheaper cost of producing, becoming the second largest selling card sending holiday with 145 million sent out every year.

Let’s start with my opinion—I have no problem with the holiday itself. It’s just a day to show affection to your sweetheart, fiancé, or partner, and I say let them have their fun. However, I do have a problem with what the holiday ignores entirely: a group of people whose perspective on Valentine’s Day is often ignored—single men and women.

With how commercialized Valentine’s Day has become (much like Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and the Fourth of July—though I might have to save those for another time), it often feels like just another corporate event. Greeting cards are bought in bulk, and companies like American Greetings seem to be the only ones gaining profits. In fact, there’s even an alternative name for Valentine’s Day: Singles Awareness Day, which, ironically, is celebrated the day after.

A Day for Everyone

But here’s how I see it—even those who are single can enjoy the holiday. One of the most important relationships anyone can have is with themselves. So, take this opportunity on a day devoted to love to celebrate yourself. Surround yourself with the people who truly care about you and remind yourself that happiness isn’t dependent on a romantic relationship.