Valentines Day is about manufactured love

By Kimberly Treloar & Angelina Garibay |Staff Writers|

It’s that time of year again where you are expected to shell out hundreds of dollars for the one you love.
That’s right it’s Valentine’s Day.
Cue the groans.
I think that this holiday has become more about bankrupting people then it has been in remaining true to its roots and therefore should not be celebrated.
Valentine’s Day began with a priest martyred for illegally performing marriages for soldiers. Later he was declared a saint and given Feb. 14 to honor him.
During the 18th century it became a custom for friends and lovers to exchange tokens of affection on this special day in remembrance of St. Valentine’s death.
Now, the holiday has become more about promoting manufactured love. It’s filled with Hallmark greeting cards, chocolates, jewelry and candy shaped like hearts.
At what point did we decide that we were going to allow places like Hallmark dictate how we show someone we love them?
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are given each year.
The candy companies, not to be outdone, joined in the fray promoting that love’s equivalent to chocolate.
Now over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for special someones.
Don’t forget the traditional red rose, 189 million of them are for Valentine’s Day alone, with special price increases for the “holiday.”
Many guys buy into the jewelers lure that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
My best friend may be made out of carbon but they are not hard as a rock.
And do you really think a kiss begins with Kay? I thought it started with a pucker of the lips.
It is clear by these facts that there are literally millions of us believing that we have to support the industry by purchasing love in a box for someone.
I urge you to not be a part of the herd this Valentine’s Day and waste your time on a ridiculous money-making scheme.
Instead you should show someone how much you love and care for them throughout the year and not on the day that the Valentine’s industry wants to bleed you dry.
As students we do not have much money and it may not be affordable to show monetary love on Feb. 14.
Instead of celebrating on Feb. 14, try showing your love and devotion every day with kind words, which are always free.
Use your imagination. Your significant other will love you more for something creative than something bought.
It’s time that we tell the Valentine’s industry that it is time to put more focus on real love and not manufactured love by not purchasing their outlandishly priced items.
Ask yourselves, “What does love have to do with it?”