Every year, for one day, it is guaranteed that love will be celebrated in many places all across the world. February 14th, or Valentine’s Day, is the day to show that special someone in your life just how much you appreciate their presence in your life. The legend that is St. Valentine is the reason we even have this celebration today. Having begun through a mixture of ancient Roman and Christian roots, the day has adapted accordingly to modern times.
In the 21st century, Valentine’s Day is characterized by a variety of aspects, whether it be gift giving, a lovely dinner, or quality time with one another. Nevertheless, couples usually plan to express their love in one way or another. Although, has the reason behind such extravagance changed over the course of the past few years?
The continuous rise and obvious presence of social media in daily life over recent years constantly influences the way we interact with our peers, or even those who are strangers to us. It would be inaccurate to say that nobody cares about what others think of them, especially since our society has fallen so deeply into the all-consuming existence of social media.
All across the world, people act according to how they wish to be perceived due to the desire to maintain a strong social media presence. So, is it possible that Valentine’s Day has lost its initial value? Rather than celebrating love, have we turned to competing against each other in order to be praised as the best lover? Have actions ceased to be out of love and care, and instead are out of want to be looked up to?
Sadie Smith (12) gives her opinion on the topic, sharing, “I wish it wasn’t true, but yes, I do believe that people have turned their intentions on Valentine’s Day away from showing love and affection. It is now a contest to be won, and I find that disappointing.” This is a sentiment held by many others, but not all. For example, Rupal Tyagi (12) states, “I don’t think the love on Valentine’s Day is all gone. Maybe it is true that some people’s reason for celebrating is different from others, but I don’t see that to be a fact for all.”
However, Valentine’s Day will continue to be celebrated for many years to come. The history of St. Valentine has already impacted us for so long; it is highly unlikely that that will change anytime soon. It is better to look at the positive side of the day and celebrate as intended, rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of the special day.
