February. The month where girls get overly obsessed with hearts and chocolates. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I hate this day, I just think Valentine’s Day is overrated. Everywhere you walk, you would see hearts, the smell of sweet chocolates, and See’s Candy overflowed with customers. If someone really cares about their loved ones, shouldn’t they express it every day, instead of writing mushy love letters and spending tons of money on sweets and flowers on just one day to show that they truly care about their partner?
Why is Valentine’s Day such a big deal to people? Yes, it’s a day to “express your love”, but people put more thought into Valentine’s Day than the more important days, such as Earth Day! “Express your love to the Earth!!” (and no, I am NOT a hippie). No one talks about Earth day besides science teachers and Disney Channel! I’m sure if you ask 100 people what day Valentine’s Day is almost everyone can name the date, but Earth Day? Maybe like five people would get the date. (April 22, for those of you who don’t know)
In ancient Rome, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated by receiving cards and chocolates; it was nothing that sweet. Instead women were given a whip – a physical whip. It was believed that if the female was whipped with animal hide, they would become more fertile. Valentine’s Day changed in the 1400’s when Saint Valentine conducted secret marriages for soldiers, even though the emperor did not approve of it. Valentine’s Day was added on the Catholic Church calendar, but was removed in 1969.
So exactly why do people buy flowers and cards on February 14th? Probably because Hallmark felt greedy and was not satisfied with their earnings with just Christmas as their main source of revenue. So, instead of just throwing out this “holiday” they began making Happy Valentine’s Day cards, and their advertisement as, “Love your partner? Buy this and they’ll be happy!” Perhaps, Hallmark collaborated with the flower companies, and chocolate companies in order to earn even more money as a whole. Candy companies started making Sweethearts, and flower companies started charging roses double the original price.
Why is Valentine’s Day such a big deal to people? Yes, it’s a day to “express your love”, but people put more thought into Valentine’s Day than the more important days, such as Earth Day! “Express your love to the Earth!!” (and no, I am NOT a hippie). No one talks about Earth day besides science teachers and Disney Channel! I’m sure if you ask 100 people what day Valentine’s Day is almost everyone can name the date, but Earth Day? Maybe like five people would get the date. (April 22, for those of you who don’t know)
In ancient Rome, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated by receiving cards and chocolates; it was nothing that sweet. Instead women were given a whip – a physical whip. It was believed that if the female was whipped with animal hide, they would become more fertile. Valentine’s Day changed in the 1400’s when Saint Valentine conducted secret marriages for soldiers, even though the emperor did not approve of it. Valentine’s Day was added on the Catholic Church calendar, but was removed in 1969.
So exactly why do people buy flowers and cards on February 14th? Probably because Hallmark felt greedy and was not satisfied with their earnings with just Christmas as their main source of revenue. So, instead of just throwing out this “holiday” they began making Happy Valentine’s Day cards, and their advertisement as, “Love your partner? Buy this and they’ll be happy!” Perhaps, Hallmark collaborated with the flower companies, and chocolate companies in order to earn even more money as a whole. Candy companies started making Sweethearts, and flower companies started charging roses double the original price.
Last year, Hallmark sold about 141 million Valentine’s Day cards world wide. In fact, without Valentine’s Day, Hallmark would lose roughly about $13.7 billion.
It’s obvious that alentine’s Day has become very commercialized. Instead of calling it Valentine’s Day, why don’t we just call it Profit Day?
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