Valentine’s Day is a day in which love and appreciation are celebrated all over the globe. Elementary students bring gifts for their classmates, friends give each other flowers and candies, and couples of all ages celebrate together in all different ways. However, some people make it a day that’s dependent on material gifting and money. It is important to recognize that the purpose of gift-giving, especially for Valentine’s Day, should be about showcasing one’s emotions toward another and expressing each person’s importance to one another.
Although it is difficult to define love, there seem to be many different forms of it. There is romantic love, familial love, love between friends, love for pets, and even love for objects. In a recent trending quiz, many were exposed to what Dr. Gary Chapman penned in his 1992 book “The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate.” These include words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, and physical touch. While it may seem centered around love toward a romantic partner, it can also apply to all other types of relationships. On Valentine’s Day, people seem to become fixated on the love language that is gift-giving.
According to the NRF, the National Retail Federation, $192.80 was the average expected spending amount on Valentine’s Day per person. That is an amount that has been steadily increasing in the past three years. This trend suggests that people may be placing more importance on price tags than on truly showing appreciation and affection. In other words, the more expensive, the more love they believe they are expressing.
It is important for people to remember that there are more ways to convey their love for others than extravagant money spending. Oftentimes, spending time with others or showing that they have been listened to and are appreciated can be more rewarding for both parties. Focusing on how the receiver will feel after being gifted is also important.
A good example of gift-giving on Valentine’s Day is KO’s yearly tradition of buying and sending carnations to teachers, friends, and those we love. While these carnations do cost a little bit of money, the amount spent isn’t what makes an impact on the receivers of the flower. Rather, it is the reminder that they are surrounded by people who actively think and care about them that brings about those warm, fuzzy feelings inside. At the end of the day, it’s not about the number of carnations a person gets but rather about who gave them.
Some may argue that Valentine’s Day is just a holiday that encourages people to spend exorbitant amounts of money on others with a general lack of true emotion. While this may seem easy to believe because of the high average expected spending as reported by the NRF, it is important to consider that $192.80 is merely an average and not the set amount that each person is spending. After all, there is a difference between those who spend large amounts of money simply to impress someone else and those who spend money in order to genuinely make an emotional impact in someone else’s life.
In conclusion, Valentine’s Day is a holiday filled with emotions, not just money. It is a day that allows people to candidly express their appreciation and love to each other, no matter who they are and their chosen form of expression.
