Why I don't celebrate Valentine's Day

Me and my Partner of 7 years now, have never really celebrated the day solely for the purpose it portrays. Meaning, letting each other know you love each other. 

I don't want a card that I'll end up throwing away after two weeks nor do I want a cuddly bear holding a red heart. 

Personally we feel that we don't need one particular day to say I love you, we already know this. We tell each other these 3 words daily and we spoil each other whenever we can throughout the year. That's not because we feel we need to, but because we enjoy each other's company and love making memories that we can treasure, whether it's a drive out somewhere to take in the sights and enjoy a coffee or a weekend away plane spotting, it's these memories that keep the spark alive.

Too much! 

I also think that everything that comes with the one day itself is way too over commercialised. The associated flower is of course the red rose, ladies these are beautiful but over expensive and not worth it. As mentioned above cards will end up in one place, the bin. Why do you want to accept an expensive piece of jewellery? Do you not have a birthday? Social media and TV adverts make out like the day is the only one in the calendar that counts, no it isn't. Every day together is special. 

I'm not saying don't celebrate the day or listen to me because I want to be a 'love grinch' but I am trying to explain what the true meaning of love is and to me, it's not Valentine's day.

BACK IN THE DAY

Many decades ago, men worked and women stayed home, the only ones who socialised were the men, with work colleagues mainly. Valentine's day was celebrated to show their better halves that they were appreciated. It was a highly anticipated holiday, with handmade cards, handwritten love letters, dinner dances and pressed flowers. 

Now, we're a lot more free, to spend days together during the entire year, chores are shared, work is a joint effort and socialising is done as a complete family.  We can therefore do things more regularly. 

Who was St Valentine? 

Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman Saint. From the High Middle Ages his Saints' Day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love. 

The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February - officially the start of their springtime.

It's thought that as part of the celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box. They'd be boyfriend and girlfriend during the festival and sometimes they'd get married.

Later on, the church wanted to turn this festival into a Christian celebration and decided to use it to remember Saint Valentine too.

If, we have celebrated the day, here's what we did:

Cinema date

On 14th February 2015, I was whisked away to the cinema to watch 50 Shades of Grey. My partner took a bag with us that hid a bottle of prosecco, two glasses and some chocolate in it. I didn't know anything about it all and to top it off we were one of only two couples in the cinema for that showing, it was perfect. 

3 course home cooked dinner

I bought some prosecco and fake red flowers for the table to dress it up and my partner cooked us the delicious 3 courses. We never have 3 courses at home or dining out, so this was quite special. 

Yep, that was two years out of our relationship together that we have ever done something to actually celebrate the day, and as you have read, it's not much because we don't need that one day.