Young Writers Society

What do you guys think of it?

Shameful consumerist by-product?

Or a great way to ask someone out/ propose/ or just declare your love?

Basically, discuss thoughts, feelings and any past experiences with Valentines Day here.

Valentines Day was made by companies to bring in more income. There's not really much to say against that; it's a corporate holiday, if one can call it a holiday.
However, it seems to have caught on in Western culture so much that it IS a great day to ask someone out/declare your undying love for someone/sit in the corner sobbing "why doesn't he/she love me!?" to melancholy music. I mean, I'm not particularly experienced in any of those three areas, and while it may seem cliché, it obviously happens.
Personally, I think it's a stupid idea. But, eh, each to his/her/it's own.

Yeah, it's obviously just a contrivance. But as is every holiday. You can make of them what you will; they're there if you want the excuse, but if you don't, you don't have to participate. I like the existence of holidays, though. I think society needs them or else life would be too monotonous.

Valentines day... After some research I found that:

1) "In the two weeks before Valentine’s Day, American sales of gold jewelry lead to 34 million metric tons of waste."
2) "Majority of roses sold for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. are imported from South America, wasting fossil fuels."
3) "Forty percent of people have negative feelings towards Valentine’s Day."

It made me feel sad that just because of one day all of these can happen. Then after some more research I realized that even though there are a lot of negative things about valentines day it's not all bad. It does bring some people closer and for a lot of people it's a good time to share your true feelings and feel loved.

So I personally don't like valentines day, but I admit there are some good things about it.

Saint Valentine's Day was originally a religious holiday to celebrate the life of Saint Valentine who helped Christians marry secretly (maybe this is where the love theme came from?) due to persecution in the Roman Empire. He is also celebrated for being a Christian martyr.

I celebrate it as a feast day. So, for the past couple of years, I've been going to the battered women shelter and helping a Christian group preach the gospel to these women. We also feed them and play games with their children. So, it's fun. I moved, so I don't get to do that this year... but we'll do something good, I am sure!

I don't really see it as a romantic day at all. But I see it as a day full of love. It's wonderful!

I celebrate it as a feast day. So, for the past couple of years, I've been going to the battered women shelter and helping a Christian group preach the gospel to these women. We also feed them and play games with their children. So, it's fun. I moved, so I don't get to do that this year... but we'll do something good, I am sure!

I don't really see it as a romantic day at all. But I see it as a day full of love. It's wonderful!

Your valentine's day sounds amazing Snoink!!

I think it's cute.

But only in the way viral videos of pandas sneezing are cute; look at it for a few minutes, smile and move on.

I love valentines day... Actually this valentines day i might actually ask someone out... I dont know. <3 but i think valentines day is AMAZING! It gives people time to think about there relationships with other people, maybe even talk about it. And its always so sweet to start an relationship on valentines day. So overall, i think valentines day is the one day where love is important. So yes, valentines day is meaningful!

Depends on who you are, your situation, and your interpretation of Valentine's Day...

Obligation vs. Opportunity. Consumerist vs. Old Tradition. Loneliness vs. Bonding. And there are probably more.

I think Valentine's Day is about the other person, whether he/she be husband, wife, lover, partner, crush, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc. You do something that makes yourself and your significant other happy, but put more effort towards the other person.

So, though I dislike Valentine's Day because of its consumerist premise, I do enjoy getting something special and making my boyfriend happy. Now, keep in mind that getting something special can be done any day of the year. However, to me, on Valentine's Day that something special seems more special just because of the fact that it's Valentine's Day as compared to any other day of the year. So, even though some people see it as an obligation (which I believe it is, but that's not all it is) and do not enjoy going through the motions of dinner, roses, chocolates, lingerie, spa, getaway, etc., I see it as an opportunity to express/confess your love/appreciation for that other person. I mean, other than Christmas, when else can you find so much stuff and get so many ideas for your special someone??