A display shows several different options for gifts to buy for Valentine’s day.
During the weeks leading up to Feb. 14, people find store shelves decked in shades of pink and red and stocked with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and other fancy symbols of love.
The day has been called the “holiday built by Hallmark” because greeting card sales sky rocket during the first weeks of February. Within the last few years it has also been called “National Single Awareness Day” as single people everywhere are forced to face the reality that they are, well, single.
“I think it’s a nice day to do stuff for other people,” Kelsea Parmelee, a fourth year psychology major said. She also said she felt it is overrated and “puts a lot of pressure on people who aren’t in a relationship.”
Sean Miller, a senior in gender and women’s studies, said he disliked Valentine’s Day and felt it had too much heterosexual emphasis.
Even students in relationships said too much emphasis is put on Valentine’s Day. Courtney Tray, a senior in computer science said Valentine’s Day, “shouldn’t be blown too out of proportion because when you’re with someone you should be with them for more than just one day out of the year.”
Nichole McGee, a senior majoring in English, said she agreed with Tray. “I wish it could be celebrated generally rather than focusing so heavily on couples,” she said.
Because of class or work obligations, some students are holding off on celebrating until later.
“I’m working and he has a test,” McGee said, “So we’ll probably have a late dinner, but nothing too big.”
Tray said they planned on going out to dinner this weekend.
Parmelee, who is single, said she planned on going to a concert with friends over the weekend, while other single students said they had not made any plans.
“Historically speaking, I don’t think it was necessarily meant for love,” Andrew Server, a sophomore majoring in secondary education with a focus in history, said. As far as relationships go, however, “it’s kind of nice to have a day focused on love.”
Whether students are single or involved in a relationship, the sentiment is generally the same. As a holiday, Valentine’s Day is overrated and may put too much emphasis on being part of a couple.
