“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be… well, January!”
Full Disclosure: I can’t stand chocolate-covered strawberries – I despise fresh fruit in my chocolate. I also don’t go out on Valentine’s day. It’s not that I hate and don’t participate in Valentine’s; I do. I like gifts and champagne as much as the next person, if not more. Then why, I hear you ask, would you not seize the opportunity to go out on (supposedly) the most romantic day of the year, dressed in red, the colour of luurrve?
Well, I’ll tell you why. I used to love going out on Valentine’s Day with whomever was my significant other, or even with friends. Year after year, I would vow never to go to such-and-such restaurant on Valentine’s again because there was a weird tension in the air and it was palpable. I didn’t care much because I was happy and having a fun, romantic time.
Then I realised the restaurants were not to blame but rather, it was the pressure of Valentine’s Day! It just makes some people uneasy. Eventually, in one relationship – which, thankfully bit the dust- I was one half of the tense couple, choking down an over-priced steak, wishing the night would end..
I decided there and then, that when I was in a happier relationship, I would spend Valentine’s Day at home with my favourite person, surrounded by my flowers and gift(s!). I would go out the next day when there was no forced romance or a Mariachi band playing Bésame Mucho rather loudly in my ear. It’s worked out splendidly so far, I have a great time every Valentine’s – I get two holidays for the price of one!
