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February 08, 2005
Rage against the Valentine’s Day machine
I knew it was coming. I sensed it, hiding, lurking, waiting to attack me in full force. And then it hit. Last weekend, I walked into Target and was assaulted in full force by the holiday that is Valentine’s Day.
The clash of violent, varying shades of red and pink screamed at me from the ends of every aisle. I looked back at the rows of chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, the boxes filled with cartoon-themed perforated sheets of Valentine’s cards for kids, and I felt utterly overwhelmed by the sheer proliferation of candy and lacy, shiny paper that surrounded me. Boxes of candy hearts and foil-wrapped candies sat arrayed on shelves, and I suddenly remembered why it is that I so dislike the holiday.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I think the basic premise of the holiday č a day to celebrate love č is a great concept, but I also believe that the commercialization of the holiday has entirely overtaken any genuine warmth the holiday could potentially embody.
Those who rant and rave about Valentine’s Day being a corporate conspiracy that Hallmark uses to pull in millions of poor saps every year just might be on to something. This holiday is everywhere.
I think the moment I cracked this year was when I saw an advertisement on television for specially packaged “his-and-hers” DVD sets for Valentine’s Day. We seem to have achieved a new low in commercial advertising here in America. I can’t go anywhere without being reminded of this holiday.
Whenever I turn on the television or the radio, I hear advertisements about which flowers, chocolates, or jewelry everybody’s sweetheart should purchase this year. I can’t even use a search engine online without seeing Valentine’s-related ads all over the place.
Furthermore, it seems to me that Valentine’s Day, though perhaps noble in its origins, fails to provide the always-enjoyable element of surprise. Because Valentine’s Day has become so incredibly commercialized, almost everyone in a relationship expects to receive a gift of some kind. And they all expect exactly the same kinds of gifts.
The flowers, chocolates, balloons, and teddy bears are all just a part of the day. Wouldn’t it be far more fun to receive those kinds of gifts unexpectedly?
It just seems to me that getting a bouquet on a random bad day would be far more enjoyable than just waiting for them all day on Valentine’s Day until the obligatory dozen red roses arrived.
My point in all of this raving is that if you insist on celebrating this holiday, try to be creative about it. Don’t do what everyone else always does. Create an element of surprise by doing something unorthodox.
Have an indoor picnic, go ice skating; just do something completely out of the ordinary and unexpected.
And please, whatever you do, please do not purchase the his-and-hers DVD pack.
Posted by msveum at February 8, 2005 04:19 PM