Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (2024)

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Single, anti-consumerist or just not a romantic? From petty heartbreak healers to anti-Valentine’s Day parties, groups are finding ways to resonate with naysayers.

Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (1)

Lilly Calman is not in the mood this Valentine’s Day for the flowers, chocolates or a romantic dinner for two, especially after a recent breakup.

“I’m very angry,” said Ms. Calman, 26, adding that it had been painful to see all the holiday paraphernalia in store aisles.

She found a more fitting outlet for her mood this year: a fund-raiser for the San Antonio zoo that will symbolically name a roach or rodent after an ex and feed it to one of the zoo’s animals.

“The visual image of him getting eaten by a Komodo dragon is pretty satisfying,” said Ms. Calman, who donated $25 for the rat option. She is hoping the zoo sends her a video so she can host a screening with a friend. “I love reptiles. I think it’s cool.”

The annual campaign has raised over $235,000 since the zoo first ran it in 2020, underscoring the appeal of alternative Valentine’s Day rituals for people who are uninterested in the coupledom of it all.

The traditions of Valentine’s Day bring strong feelings, both for and against. Do you appreciate a cute tradition? Or do you hold it in contempt as a consumerist scam? Critics have blamed it for upholding a narrow-minded model of relationships as heterosexual and monogamous.

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Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when you hate Valentine's Day? ›

Many, on the other hand, associate the holiday with feelings of depression, loneliness, and desperation. The most common reason that you would grow to hate Valentine's Day is that you only consider it to be a celebration of couples and romantic love.

What is a good Valentine's quote? ›

Valentine, you take my breath away, every single day. It's just one day in the year, but you should know that I love you every day and every moment. The more time we spend together, the more we fall in love with each other. Happy Valentine's Day!

Is Valentine's Day losing popularity? ›

Some have lost their love for the heart-shaped holiday.

That's especially true among Gen Zers (53%) and millennials (51%). However, that mentality doesn't hold true for all: 45% of Americans say they've skipped the holiday to save money, and over half (52%) say they'd avoid it altogether if they could.

Why do so many people break up on Valentine's Day? ›

Valentine's Day can also introduce financial stress into relationships. The pressure to spend on gifts, dinners, and experiences can strain budgets, especially for those who feel compelled to express their love through expensive gestures.

Why don't I like Valentine's day? ›

Many people do not appreciate being reminded of their single status, or of the expectation that they should be in a romantic relationship. Others may simply find the day to be too commercialized and feel uncomfortable with the idea of receiving gifts or participating in activities that are supposed to be romantic.

Is anti Valentine's day a thing? ›

It has nothing to do with the feeling of love; instead it is for people who are single or out of love. The seven days after Valentine's Day, called the Anti-Valentine's Week, begins from Slap Day on February 15 and go on till February 21 which is Breakup Day.

What are three Valentine quotes? ›

10 Cute Valentine's Day greetings
  • So many smiles begin with you.
  • I love you a bushel and a peck.
  • You brighten my day.
  • No one's sweeter than you.
  • I would never “swipe left” on you.
Jan 9, 2024

What is the best verse for Valentine's Day? ›

Top Valentine's Day Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

What is the best message for Valentine's Day? ›

Simple Valentine's Day Messages
  • You and me were meant to be.
  • You make me smile!
  • I love you to the moon and back!
  • Being yours is a dream come true. Happy Valentine's Day!
  • I love you just the way you are!
  • I love you THIS much!
  • I still fall in love with you every day.
  • I didn't choose you, my heart did.
Jan 8, 2024

Which gender spends the most on Valentine's day? ›

Valentine's Day spending statistics

Not only that, Valentine's Day tends to be the most popular day to get engaged. Spending differs by gender and age. Men spend more on Valentine's Day ($200+), while women usually spend less.

What percent of Americans skip Valentine's day? ›

46%) to say this. Nearly three in ten Americans (29%) say they've celebrated Valentine's Day before but will skip it this year. More men than women would be skipping the celebration this year (31% vs. 26%).

What age group celebrates Valentine's day the most? ›

Sixty-two percent of consumers ages 25-34 plan to celebrate this year, more than any other age group.

Is Valentines day more for the girl or guy? ›

A new survey by One Poll showed that half of men questioned expected their partner to put in max effort for Valentine's Day. Only 36% of women felt the same. In Today's Talker — it seems men care more about Valentine's Day than women do.

What percentage of men forget Valentine's day? ›

The poll conducted by Lavalife, which calls itself the world's largest provider of technology-based dating services, says 41 per cent of men surveyed tend to forget the romantic significance of Valentine's Day, compared with only 22 per cent of women.

Why do singles hate Valentine's day? ›

While adding a little romance to the world is no bad thing, Valentine's Day can also be hard for many people. If you're single, it's all too easy to feel lonely in the face of the onslaught of love and affection everywhere you go. That can take its toll on your mental health, whether you're in a relationship or not.

Is it normal to not celebrate Valentine's day? ›

While it might be fun to grab some roses or a silly pair of Cupid boxers on occasion, deep love and unwavering commitment to another person can be celebrated on other days and in other ways, and that means it's totally OK to forgo the tradition of V-Day if you'd like.

Why is Valentine's day dark? ›

On February 14, around the year A.D. 270, Valentine, a priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, is said to have been executed. Because he was marrying people, after the Emperor explicitly said he wanted the men to fight wars, not marry (Claudius actually banned Marriage for this very reason).

Why does Valentines day make me anxious? ›

For singles, there's pressure to be in a relationship, have a date, or look desirable to a romantic partner. As a result, it's common to experience feelings of loneliness, social isolation, sadness, anxiety, social pressure to celebrate, and even self-pity on and around Valentine's Day.

What is the fear of Valentine's day? ›

Valentinophobia is the fear of Valentine's Day. This phobia is commonly suffered by adults who have had a bad relationship, more especially getting into sexual abuse on Valentine's Day. Many sufferers of philophobia (fear of love) may lead to valentinophobia since one of the main associations of Valentine's is love.

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