Mention Valentine’s Day, and opinions diverge quickly. Some are fanatics, showering loved ones with gifts and possibly overspending, while others vehemently oppose it, labeling it a commercialized holiday invented by massive companies to take more of your money for a meaningless celebration. Valentine’s Day has grown into an $18 billion industry, yet its origins were more profound.
UNDERSTANDING VALENTINE’S DAY
Created as a liturgical festival to honor early Christian saints, it earned popularity as a day of love in Chaucer’s era. Today, millions of Americans mark the occasion with dinners, plush toys, sweets, balloons, and flowers. However, these romantic gestures add up, with the average celebrant spending over $142 on gifts.
EMBRACING VALENTINE’S DAY WITH CHILDREN
I adore this holiday, but I can’t envision spending more than $142 on Valentine’s gifts. As a parent to two kids, I take joy in centering the day on them. From heart-shaped pancakes to Valentine-themed movies, we aim for a fun-filled yet financially sensible celebration. We encourage our children to perceive Valentine’s as a day to assist and appreciate others.
I don’t view those who indulge in Valentine’s gifts as mindless buyers; instead, I want my children to understand that they can celebrate this day without leaning towards any extreme viewpoints.
DISPLAYING LOVE ON VALENTINE’S DAY
To demonstrate to your children — or even you — that Valentine’s Day is about love rather than consumerism, try some of these activities.
SHARE VALENTINES WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
Valentine’s shouldn’t only focus on couples. Consider extending your acts of kindness to your neighbors. Make them cookies or a bag of sweets with a friendly note attached. A small gesture can make their day and can lead to new friendships.
ACTS OF KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
Random acts of kindness on Valentine’s Day can bring joy to others’ day. Whether helping with snow shoveling, paying for someone’s coffee, or leaving an encouraging anonymous note, use Valentine’s Day to spread happiness.
GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY
Most people volunteer at soup kitchens and homeless shelters during holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Few consider these charitable acts during Valentine’s. Consider volunteering or donating to a local soup kitchen instead of spending exorbitant amounts on trivial gifts.
ADOPT A “DIY GIFTS ONLY” RULE
Often, homemade gifts are the most cherished, regardless of their simplicity. Encouraging the creation of handmade presents can ignite creative potential, producing unique, heartfelt gestures that show care and appreciation.
A NEW LOOK AT VALENTINE’S DAY
My hope is for my children to have a moderate approach to Valentine’s Day expenses, avoiding excessive spending or total rejection. You don’t need to excessively spend or be cynical to have a meaningful experience.
Do away with the notion of Valentine’s Day as a commercial trap. Reach out, share the love with friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Contribute to the community. Show kindness to a stranger. By making Valentine’s Day about people and not things, we revive its original essence – a celebration of love, not materialism. Share with us, how do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Are you a lover or a skeptic? Do you have a “homemade gifts only” rule?
