Valentine's Day

[SkyKnight03]

It's the end point of January. Out goes January and in comes Valentine's Day commercialism. How do you feel about Valentine's Day?

...I think it's fine. It's a cute day. As someone who is aromantic, (does not experience romantic attraction) I do wish Valentine's Day would be more of a promotion of good will rather than only romantic love.

It's okay to write a letter to a friend, give a gift to a family member, etc. Society slaps a romantic label on everything, but I think this has seen more acceptance over the years. For those who feel that day is something to dread, you can still help others out if applicable.

The idea that love is always something romantic or sexual is something I wish would pass. Platonic love is still valid love.

 

[Suguri]

I never cared much about Valentine's Day for a long time, but now that I have a partner I'm honestly looking forward to it, hehe. I wish I could mail them something physical like a stuffed toy, but we're not allowed to share our addresses with each other for now.

 

[Cirice]

I used to give some old friends chocolate and signs of appreciation in the past on valentine's day
Now it's not something I do with my current friends, although I wish we would start doing it too!
When I date I don't like Valentine's day though, because I put way too much expectations on myself to do something good enough even when I know it's not expected of me.

 

[Chris]

I enjoy it. It's a good excuse for a date night. We've a table booked at my favourite steak restaurant for Valentine's Day.

 

[Midoriya]

Like most other major holidays, I really don't care about it, lol.

 

[Aniko]

It's always been for me like a kid holiday, because when I was a kid, Valentine Day was around the same time as the winter carnaval/Mardi Gras. We had winter activities in the day and my mom was baking us a chocolate cake. We spent the evening watching cartoons/kids movies and eating candies. And it's how I still celebrate it when I do. Animation + sweets.

I don't really recall having a romantic Valentine Day. When I had a partner we were both working that night.

Not sure of what I did last year...Maybe working on some Lunar Year projects?

I don't really care about it but still appreciate the candies. But now I buy my own candies

 

[.: Meri :.]

I love Valentine's Day!! I'm a hopeless romantic ahaha. I'm single/haven't ever had a partner to celebrate it with, so I've always treated it as a day for self-care and focusing on my comfort characters ;w;

...Those little heart candies are nasty though. and I've been avoiding chocolate over concerns of lead/cadmium contamination so. no heart-shaped chocolates for me

 

[Croconaw]

I don’t care for it. It’s just a reminder for single people how single they are.

 

[Kitsuragi]

I love it. I think people care far too much about the "singles" aspect of it and think of it as some big moral failing if they're not in a relationship. It's not meant to make you miserable. I spend valentines day with my partner, my besties, my sister. Anyone that I "love." Platonically, romantically, family. It's a nice way to show someone you care- doing something fun, making crafts, having a nice meal. Etc.

Even when I was single I still loved it. The aesthetics are up my alley (pink everything) and I just love the thought of being surrounded by people I care a lot about. When I was younger and was insecure about being in a relationship, I cared a lot about the "Wahhh nobody loves me thing" but now that I don't have that brain chemical imbalance, I love it.

 

[QueenCobra]

I love chocolate, so I love it!

 

[Neb]

I was born on Valentine's Day, 2002, a little before 6 am. I've never been in a relationship, so Valentine's Day has just been my birthday. It's a day to celebrate becoming one year older, and that's it. I enjoy it when my parents get Valentine's Day chocolate as a birthday gift.

Being born on a holiday the internet loves to dunk on is saddening. People like to say it's too commercialized, but so is every other major holiday in the West. You never hear people say Halloween is "too commercialized," even though it's just as commercialized as Valentine's Day. The shame and pressure recieve on Valentine's Day is saddening, though.

 

[seliph]

i love valentine's day, i loved it before 'cause the aesthetics were cute and i love it now 'cause it's an excuse to spoil my partner.

i can't stand when people are bitter about it though.

 

[Saylor]

I love Valentine's Day! I think it's sweet there's a holiday dedicated to showing appreciation to the people you care about. I've never really understood the complaint I hear a lot that we shouldn't need a specific day to do that, cause I feel like that's the point of holidays, it's nice to have a day to celebrate our love for people even though that love is present all year long

When I was a kid I always looked forward to getting free candy and sharing valentines with classmates and as I grew up I loved getting little gifts for my friends. I'm excited cause this year will be the first Valentine's Day with my girlfriend where we won't be celebrating long distance! She's getting off work early so we'll go do something fun then have an excuse to get all dressed up and get dinner together

 

[rrenaa]

I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day! When I was a kid, it was one of my favorite holidays because we got to pick out adorable Valentine’s cards to share with our classmates, and the day was filled with fun activities. Since I wasn’t allowed to have candy back then, it made the holiday feel extra special. I also love the whole aesthetic of Valentine’s Day; the cute decorations, colors, and vibe. These days, my boyfriend and I don’t really celebrate it, so it’s become more of an ordinary day for us but I still appreciate the charm of it all.

 

[griefseed]

i think i only appreciate valentine's day if my partner also likes it and wants to celebrate it. otherwise i think that i dont celebrate it but i do love giving gifts to other people so i mainly prioritize that instead.

 

[Shawna]

I'm AroAce and single IRL, as I have discussed before. However, I still love Valentine's Day because I can indulge in my ships (including self-shipping), which I do any time of year, but there are more opportunities to do so on Valentine's Day <333

 

[Halloqueen]

Being somewhere adjacent to (but not entirely) asexual, Valentine's Day has never really been anything for me other than an excuse to have some chocolate. And even that has kind of fallen off as I'm more health conscious, lol. As I've gotten older and gotten more interested in potentially finding a partner for companionship, though, I can see myself indulging more in the holiday if I were to find somebody in the future. The aesthetics and concept are fun and I can see why it's appealing for people.

To your point about the assumed romantic association, I agree, it doesn't need to be romantic. People can celebrate it however they want; platonic, romantic, whatever, as long as it's consensual obviously. Live and let live, love and let love.

 

[AccfSally]

I absolutely adore the holiday. I love the aesthetics, even if I'm single. I'm not going to turn into the Grinch and ruin it for other people.

Around this time, I usually try to read more romance novels than normal, buy me some of those chocolates and those cute plushies (especially when they're on sale)

This is one of the things I miss about going to school, getting all those nice Valentines from classmates in elementary school and anonymously giving a single rose to each of my friends back in high school, something the school does on Valentine's Day; you can buy as many roses and send them to someone anonymously or not.
I wonder if it's still a thing today. I hope, it was really fun.

 

[MrBox]

I understand where you're coming from SkyKnight, as I am also ace and aromantic and agree that society tends to prioritize romantic love no matter the holiday and... that's just..... how it is!
Especially for Valentines Day!
It is *the* day for alloromantics!

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this but I have a friend who expresses her appreciation for me no matter the holiday (including Valentines) and it really is great. It made me realize that you don't only have to specifically assign holidays for certain people.. or for certain affections! I think everyone should do it.
Although, in my personal opinion, Valentines Day is kind of a lost cause hahah

 

[Muna]

I don't celebrate Valentine's Day and never have, despite being in a long-term relationship, but I actually enjoy its aesthetics. My grandma always gives me some chocolate around that time and I only just realized how much I appreciate that small gesture