Commercialized Love

Welcome to February, the month of love. Commercialized love, that is. The month of long stem red roses, diamond bracelets, copious amounts of chocolate and stuffed animals holding hearts that say "I love you" when pressed. And all of this to celebrate a little tradition called Valentine's Day.

Well, I guess it's really not so little, since it has been celebrated in a number of countries around the world for centuries. But where did this tradition come from? The story goes something like this: St. Valentine was a Catholic priest who served in Rome in the third century. During that time, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for all the young men in the country, arguing that they made better soldiers when they were single. St. Valentine felt that this decision was unjust, so he continued performing marriages in secret. Eventually, he was caught, imprisoned and killed for defying the law. However, his story and what he stood for- true love- live on, at least in part.

The meaning behind Valentine's Day has become a bit distorted, in my opinion. Or perhaps it's society's view on love that has become distorted. Valentine's Day has become another opportunity for businesses to make an extra buck off of unsuspecting consumers. But, I suppose we know what we're getting ourselves into, since we're the ones buying into the commercialization of the holiday. As soon as February 1 rolls around, and often before then, we begin to be inundated with commercials about love, and how you can show her you really love her by buying a 14 kt gold diamond and ruby bracelet with a matching pair of diamond studs, on special for only $499.99. Can't afford it? Don't worry, we offer financing. And don't forget to pick up a dozen long stem roses, which just so happen to be tripled in price to compensate for the extra 3/4" of ribbon and overabundance of cellophane wrap, which all contribute to the illusion of "love."Supply and demand. Or is it demand and supply?

All of these material objects are paraded around as if they represent love. Sure, these things can be an expression of one's love, but they don't represent it. "Love is patient, love is kind." Love is not a diamond bracelet or dinner at a 5 star restaurant. Love is not a dozen roses, or even two dozen roses. And it is certainly not a stuffed animal holding a giant red heart. That's disgusting. I once received a rather large balloon for V Day that would play "I love you, babe" every time it was touched. I ended up breaking up with my boyfriend the following weekend. No, not because of the balloon, although subconsciously, there may have been a correlation. Why didn't he go for the diamond bracelet instead???

Perhaps I'm painting Valentine's Day in a negative light, as a result of my cynicism and frustration. Or maybe I'm painting it in a rational light. I mean, if you love someone, you should love them all year long, right? You could buy her flowers or make him dinner any day of the year. So I don't see the need to put all of this pressure on one particular day, setting expectations extremely high, which often leads to disappointment and an empty bank account. If you want to get her flowers or a diamond bracelet, by all means, do it. But not because it's what society has said is the right thing to do, and certainly not because you let clever marketing campaigns get the best of you.

Enjoy Valentine's Day, but remember what it's really about: LOVE. Not things. Not chocolate covered strawberries, candied hearts or diamond rings. And while you're enjoying the day, check out this classic video, which offers a bit of wisdom, in addition to a fabulous tune.

For more details on the history of Valentine's Day,  check out http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day.