Kodie Butterfield
Staff Writer
The story of the origin of Valentine’s Day takes place during ancient Roman times. Emperor Claudius II made it against the law for young soldiers to marry. Saint Valentine was a man who went behind the ruler’s back and preformed marriage ceremonies for young couples. He was caught and put to death for repeatedly breaking the law. It wasn’t until after being put to death that he was considered a saint.
What is Valentine’s Day really about? Is it about how many cards, flowers, or chocolates you get? Or is it where your significant other takes you for dinner? Valentine’s Day has been advertised for many years as a day to treat the person or people you love special.
Today the stores start covering themselves in hearts and chocolates as soon as the new year begins. Couples start planning their dates and figuring out what that ‘perfect’ gift might be. Valentine’s Day like so many other holidays has suffered the disease of commercialization. The holiday has developed into a chance for stores around the country to make money off of unaware consumers.
I work at a grocery store here in Boone Iowa and the holidays just don’t mean the same anymore. I have had first-hand experience for the past two years seeing all of these people scrambling around the day before Valentine’s Day to find that gift for their significant other. I’ve had the pleasure of watching the floral department become swamped by men sweating and rushing to get roses for their wives or girlfriends.
Now commercialization isn’t the only thing that has made this holiday what it is today. There is also the stress factor. We can see this appear as early as elementary school. Even at this young age kids feel the pressure to get the “best valentine” or to get the most in your decorated shoe box. I remember myself as a kid working for hours with my Mom on decorating the perfect box for all of my classmates to put in my special Valentine cards. I would spend another hour picking the perfect card out of the set for each individual person. I know now that almost every girl in my class did the exact same thing.
Then I look at my 8-year- old niece. Last year she was in second grade and I still remember her talking about her Valentine’s Day party at school. She went on and on about how a certain boy in her class gave her a “special” card. For her this meant it had her favorite cartoon character from some Disney movie. Then my niece continued to tell me about how there was a girl in her class that she didn’t like. My niece gave the girl a card that had one of the evil stepmothers from a princess movie. I had a complete mental flashback to when I was young and worried about the same thing.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a stress for the women or girls though. My best guy friend in elementary school did the same thing I did. He didn’t want certain girls to get the wrong idea, but I do remember he would always save his favorite for me.
Then when I go to work on or near this holiday I see more men than women. They are the ones running around trying to get flowers, chocolates, and the perfect card.
The idea behind Valentine’s Day today is to show that special someone how much you care. I personally think it is great that people want to shower others with love and gifts. The question remains though; why do we need just one day a year to do just that? Why do we need an excuse to treat the people we care so much about special?
I’m not saying that Valentine’s Day is a bad thing, but much like many other holidays it is just a reminder of the things we should be doing every day. Personally, I would rather have a random act of kindness or love throughout the year then just have one day to feel extra special.
Staff Writer
The story of the origin of Valentine’s Day takes place during ancient Roman times. Emperor Claudius II made it against the law for young soldiers to marry. Saint Valentine was a man who went behind the ruler’s back and preformed marriage ceremonies for young couples. He was caught and put to death for repeatedly breaking the law. It wasn’t until after being put to death that he was considered a saint.
What is Valentine’s Day really about? Is it about how many cards, flowers, or chocolates you get? Or is it where your significant other takes you for dinner? Valentine’s Day has been advertised for many years as a day to treat the person or people you love special.
Today the stores start covering themselves in hearts and chocolates as soon as the new year begins. Couples start planning their dates and figuring out what that ‘perfect’ gift might be. Valentine’s Day like so many other holidays has suffered the disease of commercialization. The holiday has developed into a chance for stores around the country to make money off of unaware consumers.
I work at a grocery store here in Boone Iowa and the holidays just don’t mean the same anymore. I have had first-hand experience for the past two years seeing all of these people scrambling around the day before Valentine’s Day to find that gift for their significant other. I’ve had the pleasure of watching the floral department become swamped by men sweating and rushing to get roses for their wives or girlfriends.
Now commercialization isn’t the only thing that has made this holiday what it is today. There is also the stress factor. We can see this appear as early as elementary school. Even at this young age kids feel the pressure to get the “best valentine” or to get the most in your decorated shoe box. I remember myself as a kid working for hours with my Mom on decorating the perfect box for all of my classmates to put in my special Valentine cards. I would spend another hour picking the perfect card out of the set for each individual person. I know now that almost every girl in my class did the exact same thing.
Then I look at my 8-year- old niece. Last year she was in second grade and I still remember her talking about her Valentine’s Day party at school. She went on and on about how a certain boy in her class gave her a “special” card. For her this meant it had her favorite cartoon character from some Disney movie. Then my niece continued to tell me about how there was a girl in her class that she didn’t like. My niece gave the girl a card that had one of the evil stepmothers from a princess movie. I had a complete mental flashback to when I was young and worried about the same thing.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a stress for the women or girls though. My best guy friend in elementary school did the same thing I did. He didn’t want certain girls to get the wrong idea, but I do remember he would always save his favorite for me.
Then when I go to work on or near this holiday I see more men than women. They are the ones running around trying to get flowers, chocolates, and the perfect card.
The idea behind Valentine’s Day today is to show that special someone how much you care. I personally think it is great that people want to shower others with love and gifts. The question remains though; why do we need just one day a year to do just that? Why do we need an excuse to treat the people we care so much about special?
I’m not saying that Valentine’s Day is a bad thing, but much like many other holidays it is just a reminder of the things we should be doing every day. Personally, I would rather have a random act of kindness or love throughout the year then just have one day to feel extra special.