Origins of Valentine’s Day Not sweet as candy, corny as cards

GABRIELLE MOXHAM Reporter

The very controversial day of love known as Valentine’s Day came from the ancient Romans, and actually is believed by historians to have a crude beginning. According to npr.org, the day started when “Emperor Claudius II executed two men -both named Valentine- on Feb. 14 of different years in the third century.” Later on, this day was celebrated in the church of Catholics and known as St. Valentine's Day.

That being said, as the day spread, it began to develop over the course of time with the help of romanticization coming from Shakespeare.

As the day’s true meaning got lost, new ones were formed, which brings society to its celebratory meaning today: cherishing loved ones.

The holiday now has its pros and cons, of course, which is probably why it is considered so controversial. The people with partners usually love it, as it is an excuse to not only show how much you care for them but also receive love and gifts.

However, many people go out of their way to top last year's gifts or their partner’s, and end up spending more money than they can afford.

According to thebalancemone. com, around 23.9 billion dollars was spent on valentines in 2022! This revenue is great for businesses, but not so much for a person's bank account.

This year, the Millennial generation will be the ones hurting most after Valentine's Day, as ages 35-44 are predicted to spend the most money this loving season, according to cnbc.com. Then, of course, there are the single people who mostly feel utter loneliness on the holiday, as it is a reminder of how lacking their intimacy is. This being said, they tend to cope with this through binge spending on themselves for the gifts they are missing out on from a partner while enjoying a sad night in.

As for students' opinions, foreign exchange student Baptiste Choné claims that he didn’t celebrate the holiday in France, and does not plan to in America. “I would celebrate if I had a Valentine, but overall I think it is an unnecessary holiday,” he says. Different cultures celebrate this holiday in a variety of ways.

For instance, across the sea to Verona, Italy, thousands of people send love letters addressed to “Juliet,” and a bunch of volunteers from the Juliet Club reply to these messages. The author of the most touching letter is awarded with the “Juliet Prize” or “Cara Giulietta.”

Whether you believe in the holiday or not, the day is a great opportunity to spread love and kindness throughout the community.