The public celebration of Valentine's Day seems to serve three purposes, only one of which is worth serving. The first is to reinforce male feelings of inadequacy now that they've had a chance to heal from their inadequate feelings over buying the perfect Christmas gift. I recently heard a commercial chastising men for not buying the engagement ring "they know she wanted" for Christmas and having another chance to get it right.
The second purpose is less humorous in male-bashing commercials, and is profoundly sadder. It seems to serve as a cruel reminder to lonely people that they are alone. I'm specifically using the word lonely – because I know that not everyone who is without a partner laments it. I'm referring solely to those folks who are struggling to get through the winter and wishing for someone to cuddle on a cold evening. A holiday drenched in images of love and togetherness just unnecessarily rubs their noses – or their broken hearts – in it.
You can't avoid the commercially manufactured depictions of gaudy romance. Tin-foil wrapped chocolate hearts, velvet covered plastic roses, stuffed animals in unnatural shades of pink and red, things with glitter, feathers and lips on them. It's horrifying.
What Valentine's Day is supposed to celebrate shouldn't need its own day, but since it has one, it should not need to be so public. Taking the time celebrate the love you have found is something worth doing every day of your life and perhaps a special day is needed in this busy world. But when February 14th comes around, let's not get so caught up in the commercialism that we forget that not everyone who wishes they could celebrate can and we shouldn't inflict our expressions of love onto those who need no more reminders that they are alone.
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