Twój koszyk jest obecnie pusty!
przez
How about an alternative to Valentine’s Day?
Feel like giving it a try?
“Valentine’s Day is a manufactured holiday that does nothing but make those alone feel lonelier and those who are in relationships feel disappointed because life isn’t a fairy tale” – this is a memorable quote from an episode of the Rookie, a US police series. It’s a skeptical take on the bitter truth about how many people feel about Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and friendship with people sending Valentine cards and gifts to those to whom you want to show your kindness, appreciation, friendship and love. Yet more often than not, it’s perceived as a holiday of those who are in love. The popular image is of a romantic love, of people infatuated with one another and head over heels in love. This notion is promoted and reinforced by romantic comedies, tv series, literature and music but most of all by marketing specialists who see this as a perfect opportunity to sell more. Therefore, St. Valentine’s Day is becoming more and more commercialized, with various industries producing and selling gifts and flowers, restaurants offering special menus, hotels and resorts promising happy couples blissful Valentine holidays at divine, luxurious getaways, and all this at equally luxurious prices.
Nothing surprising then, that this overexcitement with love and love-related gadgets and the resulting commercialization and trivialization of love has given rise to a backlash culture of Anti-Valentine. A whole trend of protest against celebrating St. Valentine’s Day has emerged. Anti-Valentine parties are the flavor of the day. It is an occasion to invite friends, predominantly single or those who simply hate all the “fuss about love,” to boycott the Cupid’s holiday. There are many ways to throw an anti-Valentine party, including, but not limited to:
- Sending out funny invitations that mock Valentine’s Day, such as „R.I.P. Valentine’s Day” or „Let’s celebrate Singles Awareness Day”.
- Shooting arrows at heart piñatas to really drive the point home.
- Making a playlist of anti-love songs, such as „Love Stinks,” „You Give Love a Bad Name” or “What’s Love Got to Do with It” – promoting independence and self-love.
- Providing chocolate in anti-Valentine shapes, such as skulls or broken hearts.
- Altering decorations from the store by spray painting X’s over hearts or writing „stinks” under „love”.
- Lighting black candles to create a dark mood.
- Enjoying such classics as “the First Wives’ Club” and “Gone Girl” to complete your list of revenge goals.
- Serving messy, greasy food instead of fancy, romantic dishes.
- Doing soothing arts and crafts that are not related to love or romance.
- Giving out appropriate party favours, such as anatomically correct heart pins or Grumpy Cat plushies.
- Making Stupid Cupid cocktails containing gin and all sorts of bitters you could ever want.
- Sending your friends a special card with the following reminder:
“Happy Made-Up-By-The Greeting-Card Floral-And-Candy-Industry-To-Sell-More- Stuff-And-Make-Single-People-Feel-Bad Day! Here is your Greeting Card. You are loved.” Etsy.com
The Anti-Valentine’s Day movement is also an opportunity for those who are crossed in love to express their frustration and disappointment with being rejected by their ex- partners. One such initiative is taken by the St. Antonio zoo offering to those going through a break-up the possibility of naming a cockroach after their ex’s and feeding it to a giant lizard for $10. The funds raised in this way are going to support the future of Texas wildlife. At least this effort is not wasted and is for a good cause!
Of course, even the Anti-Valentine movement can’t escape market economy as you can easily notice there is a whole new line of products catering to the needs of those boycotting the traditional way of celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Valentine Card decorated with hearts, flowers and cupids.
So enjoy your Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re single, in a relationship, embracing or boycotting Valentine’s Day or just looking for an excuse to party, have fun and remember there is always a new day after Valentine’s Day!
Over to you. What do you think about these alternatives to celebrating Valentine’s Day? Let me know in the comments.
Image by Freepik
Dodaj komentarz