Junior and Viewpoints Editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo is pictured above with facts regarding her stance on Valentine’s Day. Garcia-Pozo believes the focus on romance that Valentine’s Day offers can be overwhelming. Graphic by Valeria Garcia-Pozo
Viewpoints editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo believes the commercialization of and pressure associated with Valentine’s Day outweigh the holiday’s positives.
Valentine’s Day — it is the quintessential holiday for people to celebrate love, purely and simply.
Although people can use it to celebrate their families, their friends or even their pets, more often than not, it’s about romantic relationships.
According to a survey by the National Retail Foundation, Americans are expected to spend an average of $88.98 on their significant others and spouses this year, over $60 more than they will on other family members — the second-largest spending category.
This focus on romance can be problematic for everyone — whether or not they’re in relationships.
Celebrating the holiday with a brand-new partner could raise intense expectations (gifts, candy, confessions of love) neither person is ready for.
And, all too often, the commercial aspect of Valentine’s Day is overemphasized. From the store aisles flashing pink, white and red from the middle of January to the Valentine’s Day specials at restaurants and local businesses, a simple celebration of love is turned into a glorified opportunity for Hallmark cards to fly off the shelves.
Expectations are a big deal on Valentine’s Day — from the unspoken expectation that one’s partner will buy them a gift to the fact that, according to CNN, 85 percent of men and women believe sex is an important part of Valentine’s Day.
These things can turn Valentine’s Day into a stressful, pressure-filled time of year.
Some may say that communication between romantic partners can solve many of these problems.
However, with the surprise-oriented nature of Valentine’s Day and the constant hype it receives not only from people, but from ads, it’s very possible to still run into awkward scenarios.
For those celebrating Valentine’s Day, communication is key. Those unsure of what they will do for gifts or celebration should talk about it with their partners. Most importantly, those in relationships should remember that gifts and candy aren’t everything — no one should feel pressured to empty their wallets to show their love.
