Valentine’s Day used to be thought of as a day of love, romance, secret admirers and even sex. On Valentine’s Day, Cupid is supposed to strike and make people fall in love.
If that actually happened once a year people might actually look forward to this big Hallmark money-maker. Unfortunately, Cupid does not exist, and we are on our own for finding our perfect match. It seems this big V word can really bring out bitterness, past memories of being heartbroken, happiness — or some people view Feb. 14 as another day.
Sammie Bailey, a freshman here at EMU, decided with her sister to replace Valentine’s Day with an alternate holiday. This holiday is called “I Hate Men Day.” Bailey said her and her sister go through pictures and gather ones of every guy who ever broke either of their hearts.
“It doesn’t matter how long ago,” Bailey said. Then the two go into the garage and light them all on fire. “There is no greater satisfaction than getting to burn the idiot who lost out on you.”
Ted Pixley has a fiancé, and when Valentine’s Day comes around nothing changes for them.
“All Valentine’s Days are uneventful with the misses … we don’t believe in it.” Pixley said. The holiday was just a stupid day, he said.
David Paeth just transferred to EMU this winter semester as a junior. Paeth is another guy who is not all thrilled about Valentine’s Day. According to Paeth, since so much attention is given and because so much money is spent on expensive gifts for women on Valentine’s Day, guys take a loss.
Valentine’s Day should be changed to “Valentina Day,” he said.
“I remember getting Valentine’s Day cards in elementary school, but we had to give [one to] everybody,” Paeth said.
Valentine’s day is very unbalanced in terms of gift-giving, as well as media coverage.
“The media tries to get men to buy expensive, elaborate gifts for the women in their lives,” and in return, Paeth said, the woman does not recuperate.
Joey Huang, a junior, said he just gets a fifth of Vodka and lays in bed with a movie for Valentine’s Day.
Gabby Alvarado said she just hangs out with friends on Valentine’s Day.
“Last year I went out with five of my friends, we saw ‘Coraline,’ had dinner, and went straight to the bar,” Alvarado said. She explained she never really did anything special as a kid for Valentine’s Day, but she loved getting little cards and passing them out to her friends. She doesn’t miss that part as an adult, but the one thing that can’t be taken away from her is the candy.
“I love the Sweet Heart Conversation Hearts,” Alvarado said.
So many people celebrate or don’t celebrate this day in so many different ways. Some people go to the Dirty Show in Detroit, which has a lot of adult-level exhibits. Some are pornographic, and some are artistic. Some people take their loved ones to a nice dinner and a restaurant, some people cook and sometimes a teddy bear with an “I love you” is enough.