Valentine’s Day. You hear those words and depending on who you are, you either smile, or roll your eyes. Valentine’s Day is one of those days that have been up for debate since as long as I could remember. When I remember February 14 is right around the corner, I get excited, and here’s why you should love it too.  

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is celebrated by couples who like to buy each other gifts and spoil each other, but that is not always the case. The argument I most commonly hear from people who despise Valentine’s Day is “Well I’m single so there’s no point,” which is simply not true. The day of love is a day to celebrate each other as people, regardless of relationship status. For instance, do you remember in elementary school when everyone in the class would bring candy and pass it out? Well, when you were 10 years old I’m sure you were not in a serious relationship, unless of course it was a playground romance for the ages, but regardless you still looked forward to the day everyone would get candy. Couples, friends, and family members can celebrate Valentine’s Day, not just as a day of romance, but as a day of love in general. 

There are a lot of things that you can do to celebrate Valentine’s Day. My friends and I will be celebrating “Galentine’s Day,” and are doing secret Valentine gifts for each other (like secret Santa but for Valentine’s Day.) Individual relationship statuses aside, we are still enjoying the holiday as a day to spend time together. If you and your friends did not set up a “Galentine’s or Palentine’s” hangout, spend it with a significant other if you have one. If you don’t have one, you can spend the day with your family and enjoy each other’s company. Whoever you spend it with, there are a lot of things you can do that are COVID friendly, like ordering dinner in or watching movies. 

Despite who you hang out with that day, gift giving and receiving is lots of fun, whether it is a candy bar, or a diamond ring. Stores like Target have a whole section dedicated to Valentine’s Day around the holiday, perfect for stuffed animals and candy lovers. Personally, I love chocolate, so the Target Valentine’s Day section is my second home during the month of February. Stores also have Valentine’s Day stuffed animals too! If you do not like candy or stuffed animals, you can consider buying one of those (or both if you are feeling generous) for someone else you have any kind of relationship with, just to brighten their day, which is what the day of love is all about. 

Although I bring up the point that February 14 is a day for love of all kinds, many argue that it only pertains to couples. Commercials you see on television always say things like “that special someone,” or jewelry commercials have couple-ish taglines around Valentine’s Day, and more. When looking at it from that perspective, it is justifiable that Valentine’s Day is only for couples, but it is closing your mind off to the other positive parts and opportunities of Valentine’s Day. Although there is reasoning for both sides, everyone should want to celebrate the holidays under any circumstance, not just when they have a significant other. Hypothetically, if you are in a relationship one year and not the next, you will miss out on a bunch of fun, solely because you did nothing based off of the idea that the holiday is not for you if you are single.