By BEN GOLDMAN
MAHWAH – Valentine’s Day is typically celebrated every Feb. 14 for better or for worse. The way this seemingly romantic holiday is perceived by the public is generally mixed.
Many people genuinely love Valentine’s Day, and use it as an opportunity to bond with, or perhaps select, their “special someone.” The most traditional means of celebration usually involve romantic gift-giving, with chocolate, flowers and cards being exchanged by celebrators in a display of affection toward one another.
Others dread flipping their calendar whenever February comes around, either thinking that the holiday is a waste of time and money, or perhaps their Valentine’s plans haven’t gone so well in the past that their opinions have shifted as a result.
Some are indifferent with their views, seeing Feb. 14 as just another average day, and think that every day should be spent loving the one you’re with, rather than just one designated time of the year.
At Ramapo College, students have already begun preparations, or taken precautions, for their Valentine’s Day plans, if any. There are those on campus who enjoy the holiday, and see it as a good opportunity to spend time with their significant other.
“I think Valentine’s Day is a good holiday in which couples can enjoy by celebrating the person they’re with,” said Sebastian Ugarte, a finance major at Ramapo College. Ugarte is also a resident assistant at Laurel Hall, one of the college’s largest dorms. “Some people celebrate it with self-love, which I also find to be good. I think it’s a good holiday. Regardless of what you’re doing, you can spend it with someone you care about.
“After class, my girlfriend is coming from Rutgers, and she’s picking up some food for us to eat, so when I come back from class we’ll spend it together, exchange gifts and eat some take-out,” Ugarte said of his Valentine’s plans.
Ugarte certainly isn’t alone in his positive feelings about Valentine’s day. However, there are those who don’t find the holiday to be nearly as enjoyable as he does. In fact, many people resent the holiday’s yearly observance for various reasons. Some tend to be over-dramatic and ridiculous with their thoughts, but others make fair points.
“While I feel like Valentine’s day is a good day to make a romantic gesture, I feel like it also excludes a lot of people, and makes single people feel self conscious,” said Gunnar Hopson, a literature major at Ramapo College. “It’s all well and good, and there’s no real harm in it, but I feel like it also places pressure on people to be in a relationship.”
While these two students are at two separate ends of the spectrum when it comes to the celebration of Valentine’s day, other’s perceptions fall somewhere in between.
“The idea of Valentine’s day is nice, but people should treat their significant others nicely everyday,” said Lauren Halecki, a social work major at Ramapo College. “They should not feel compelled to spend loads of money for this day.”
Despite her indifferent outlook, Halecki still plans on celebrating Valentine’s day: “I will be spending time with my boyfriend at home, and I’ll also be buying my friends little valentines, like the ones you give your friends in elementary schools.”
Financial concerns affecting Valentine’s Day outlook
Many Americans across the country also split their perceptions on how they feel about Valentine’s day; this is attributed greatly to how much they spend on their dates/partners. According to GroovyCandies.com, an estimated 61.8 percent of consumers in the United States celebrate the holiday by spending money for others on some gift pertaining to Valentine’s day, and spends an average of $130 each year in preparing for it ahead of time or at the last minute on the day of. It can be said that the other 38.2 percent do not partake in the celebration, since the holiday typically involves buying gifts.
The Groovy Candies site also says that an average of $18.5 billion is spent among all of these celebrating consumers combined in America each year! Expenses, whether or not potential celebrators are willing to pay for them, can certainly effect their perspectives on what many usually consider to be a thoughtful and romantic holiday.
“Associating Valentine’s Day with financial obligations is a superfluous measure and serves only to obscure the true purpose of the holiday,” said Blaine Henn, a political science major at Ramapo College. “One cannot put a price tag on love and friendship, as doing so only serves to cheapen both sensations. People should not feel obligated to spend hundreds of dollars just because it’s Valentine’s Day, especially considering there is a significant number of people who simply do not possess the means to pay for extravagant gifts and outings.
“If anything, Valentine’s Day should be a day of reflection, a time when people can contemplate the meaning of love itself, and how loving others, not just their friends and family, can make a significant impact on a person’s life,” Henn said on his thoughts regarding the meaning of the holiday.
Whether you love it, hate it, or feel indifferent about it, and for whatever reasons you have, Valentine’s day remains a staple holiday that continues to be observed each year on Feb. 14; for better, or for worse.
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— RCNJ Alumni (@RamapoAlumni) February 6, 2019
The stats regarding how much people are willing to spend on Valentine’s is just what I was hoping for, it’s a huge marketing opportunity for a lot of different stores and it’s almost insane how sales rise around this time. All the quotes and perspectives make the story even better, not only is it people with a significant other but even people who dislike it or see it as an excuse for companies to get money. This story was casual and well composed.
The mixed perspectives from the article are interesting as it shows people from all over the spectrum – someone who loves the holiday, someone who hates it, and someone who is indifferent. They all make good points and the inclusion of stats on how much money is spent on average by someone per year for Valentine’s Day is good as it really conveys just how much the day can be blown out of proportion, as a few people across campus said. It all comes down to personal opinion, but each make good cases for their position.