Some may think Jim Carrey's character in the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," said it best when he said: "Valentine's Day is a day invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap," but it can't be denied that on Wednesday, love is in the air. Roses are being bought by the dozen. Candy hearts and chocolate boxes roll out by the ton, and pink and red cards with loving words inside them are flying off the shelves like mad - it's Valentine's Day, the most well-known of the commercial holidays.
"I think it lessens the meaning or value of Valentine's Day with all the commercialism, but it's really a personal choice to buy into all of that," said junior biology major Jillian Blackwell.
Many students think holidays such as Valentine's Day are becoming too commercial. To some students, Valentine's Day is all about buying gifts and candy, and the meaning behind the holiday is lost.
There are many different myths and legends as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Many historians believe Valentine's Day originated with the third Century Roman priest Saint Valentine.
Legend has it that while in prison for performing marriages against the will of the Roman Emperor Claudius II, Valentine fell in love with a young girl - his jailor's daughter - and wrote her love letters before his death in A.D. 270. The myth goes on to say that he signed the letters "From your Valentine," a popular phrase that is still present in today's Valentine's Day gifts and cards.
Others believe the Christian church created Valentine's Day in an effort to blend with the pagan Lupercalia festival. On the day of Lupercalia, young boys would run through the streets of Rome, touching the women of the city with sacrificial goat hides to ensure fertility.
Regardless of where it originated, Valentine's Day has come into the American spotlight as what some consider a very commercial and Americanized holiday. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Americans exchange more than 180 million Valentine's Day cards each year. They estimated the number of roses to be produced and purchased for Valentine's Day to be 189 million, equaling 21 percent of the yearly volume of flowers purchased.
"Valentine's Day has become a day where you tell people you love them," said junior international studies major Abbey Adkinson. "It shouldn't be that way. You should let people know that you love and care about them every day, not just once a year."
With the ever-increasing technological advances at websites for companies like Hallmark, couples can purchase gifts for each other, send each other e-cards, purchase flowers over the phone or online and have them delivered, and even have special desserts such as cakes and pastries made for that special someone.
"I feel like Valentine's Day has gotten way out of control," said senior biomedical science major Hanna Broussard. "They put stuff up in stores like two weeks in advance, just like it's Christmas."
Regardless of its commercialism, Valentine's Day still holds a special place in many students' hearts.
"I think it's really cool that we have a holiday that celebrates a relationship and how people care for each other." Blackwell said. "It's a nice change from all the holidays that just celebrate one person."
Be the first to comment on this article!