It's that time of year again...

Pink and red everything is plastered over every inch of department stores.  Jewelry commercials suddenly multiply like rats.  I get the question, "So what are you and Philip doing for Valentine's Day?" repeatedly.  

And the look of shock (or even disgust -- and sometimes jealousy from my male friends) when I explain that Philip and I don't actually celebrate is, at times, hilarious.  I see no reason to celebrate Valentine's Day.  

I love Philip every day, and I show him every day (and ditto for him to me).  Besides, I don't wear much jewelry, I'm not a big chocolate eater, and I'd rather go out to eat when every other couple on the face of the planet isn't crowded into a restaurant.  

Valentine's Day has no significance to me.  It's supposed to be about Christian martyrs... nothing romantic about it.  So, I don't really understand how it's a romance holiday.  And, Philip and I already celebrate our anniversaries (dating and wedding), so we don't really need a day that doesn't mean anything to either of us to celebrate our love.  We'll just continue to love each other (and show it) each and every day of our lives together.  :) 

My V-day Protest

Valentine's Day is officially over.  Thank goodness.  It's a ridiculous "holiday."  People buy flowers, candy, jewelry, or expensive dinners for their significant others.  But why?

Saint Valentine's day was a Catholic holiday celebrating Christian Martyrs.  There's nothing romantic about a bunch of old dead white guys.  

A lot of people assume that I don't celebrate the day because of bad memories or for being jilted on the holiday in the past.  Not true.  I haven't been single on V-day since I was in the seventh grade.  In fact, the last time I celebrated V-day (when I was in college -- 19 years old), it was a perfectly magical night.  It was a double date.  There was a fantastic meal and gifts and I had a great time.  

It's just that when I actually stopped to think about the day, it didn't make any sense.  I love my partner every day of the year.  I don't need to give or receive meaningless gifts on some random day out of the year in order to prove my love for my partner (or for them to prove their love to me). 

And, I just felt bad for my single friends.  The day just singled them out.  It was like pouring salt in the wound of their alone-ness (if they did not want to be alone).  

I'm sure the dead white guys wouldn't care if I gave my partner chocolates to celebrate their death.  It makes no sense to me.  So, I don't celebrate it.  End of story.