The Significance of Valentine's Day

     I don't like feeling forced to put any amount of significance on a certain day, especially if I feel it is a day filled with obligatory sentiment and reactionary, fearful action. Let's get this out of the way... Yes, I am talking about Valentine's Day and yes, I do have a boyfriend. I just don't think people should be pushed to buy things just to prove their love. I like to mark the day with thoughtful gestures because love should be celebrated. However, I do not have an affinity for cut flowers, after all they will wilt away and leave decaying petals and soot in just days. I am not a lover of chocolate, even when it comes in a tacky heart shaped box. I despise stuffed animals tied with red and pink ribbon because I am left wondering what the heck I will do with it when I'm done pretending it is the greatest gift ever (actually, I would never fake this sort of approval or acceptance). Why make people feel bad for not buying this meaningless junk?
     For some people, the "junk" of Valentine's Day is treasure. I wonder why the day holds so much importance for them. Do they not feel appreciated the other 364 days of the year? Do they not feel loved? Are they poor decorators and do not know how to fill their lives and homes with adult-appropriate furnishings (yes, I am talking about you teddy bears)? Are they attention deprived and therefore need some big "romantic" gesture at work like a flower delivery to show everyone that they are important? Does a man need to spend a lot of money to prove he loves you?
     We learn our attitudes on Valentine's Day when we are young by watching the actions of adults. By teaching our children the importance of this commercial holiday are we setting them up for rejection and jealousy? I remember filling out valentines required for each person in my elementary school class. I would save my favorite valentines for my favorite people and give the leftovers to the others. I would mess up on some of them and cross things out. When I ran out of "good" valentines, the discarded valentines would go to the less popular kids. Even though this method had its inefficiencies, it is better than the days when a student didn't have to give a valentine to everyone. In those days, some poor kids wouldn't get any cards.
     Perhaps parents and schools should ignore Valentine's Day. Children should learn they don't need a designated date to show their feelings. Lessening the significance of the day could then force society to take a step back, keep their money in their pockets, keep the flowers growing in the ground, and maintain the use of chocolate as a comfort indulgence for depressing days.