Is Valentine's Day Overrated?

Swan

My husband says it isn't a real holiday. He says when he was young it was about trading valentines (cards); not about gifts. He says it is too commercialized and rather overrated.

I guess I have to agree. My JW background sees it as another holiday with over emphasis on one thing; when you should be showing your valentine love every day of the year. But still, when my coworker's husband comes down to our office and decorates her car with heart balloons and streamers and whisks her away to lunch, I feel a bit envious.

So no flowers. No gift. No bear. No candy (not that I really need it). But I didn't get a card either (I had one for him just in case). I did take the time to bake him my meatloaf, though, which he loves.

To be fair, we just celebrated his 65th birthday on Saturday. Mine is coming up and will be an occasion too, like every year, I'm sure.

But I guess I don't understand how "worldly" people know which holidays to celebrate. The major ones are easy, but the "minor" holidays are hard to figure, even after all of these years. Why do they give you MLK day off, but not Valentine's, Groundhog's, St. Patrick's, Halloween, or May Day? Halloween is a major holiday, but not a day off. Valentine's isn't important for some people, but is for others.

So which holidays do you consider major? minor? bogus?

Tammy

Mulan

We had gifts for each other and it was fun! It's not a huge day for us, but I always get him some little thing, and a card. This year I got him a photo album, made online by ofoto, of family photos over the last year. He loved it! He got me a bottle of my perfume that I have been out of since summertime. I was thrilled. Usually he gets me chocolates and flowers, but this year he knew better than to get candy. I haven't had any sugar since I started Weight Watchers right after New Year's.

I heard a talk show host saying that she thought Valentine's Day was more for people who are searching for love, or for those dating. People who are married or in committed relationships don't need it. Just an opinion, but I thought it was interesting.

Valis

eh after you spend gobs of money on XMAS I think the last thing one would want to do is spend a bunch more I don't have now.. So I asked CSG where she wanted to go have dinner...I gave her crabs for Valentines Day..

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Seeking Knowledge

I wouldn't consider Valentine's day or Halloween a "holiday" per se...but it's fun to get stuff none the less. This year I got flowers from a friend of mine and I sent her flowers as her beau was out of town & not likely to remember. I think it's nice to get something, a card, flowers even a bit of chocolate just so you know someone is thinking of you. Of course, it's good to get them all throughout the year as well.

I'd consider the major ones Christmas, Easter & Thanksgiving....the rest are minor IMO...oh and birthdays, they are always major, but mostly for the kids!! I'm not inclined to celebrate those for me much these days!

frenchbabyface

So which holidays do you consider major? minor? bogus?

I still don't get the holiday stuff somehow ... I just want to be, with those I want to be, when I feel like to be (in real space or in my/their heart) ... everything else is the shery on the cake ...

iiz2cool

Most holidays irritate me, except for the paid time off work. It's not the JW thing either because I was sick of holidays long before I ever heard of the JWs. I just don't feel obligated to do something special simply because the calendar or retailers tell me to.

Walter *feeling a bit grouchy today*

Swan

I'd consider the major ones Christmas, Easter & Thanksgiving....the rest are minor IMO...oh and birthdays, they are always major, but mostly for the kids!! I'm not inclined to celebrate those for me much these days!

My husband also says Easter is a kids holiday, so we don't do anything on that day since we don't have kids. Kids birthdays we do. It takes a special trip up to Vancouver. We celebrate each other's birthday too. I remember friends in the office on their birthday with some little gift.

I still don't get the holiday stuff somehow ...

After 11 years you think I would, but then something comes along and I realize I still don't get it. It is very discouraging. I feel like such a fish out of water sometimes. Maybe that is why the JWs just renounce all holidays except for the Memorial, Thanksgiving, and Superbowl Sunday. It's easier to understand what's expected when you just have a few.

Tammy

joannadandy

Normally I would agree...because I am bitter dried out hag at such a young age.

But this year I actually have someone in my life who I could celebrate with. It was officially my first valentines day. It was nothing huge. Just dinner at home, cooked by my boy (damn can that kid cook) and an exchange of gifts and cards.

(He went a little over the top and in my opinion spent too much money on me -(I believe my exact words when I opened it was "HOLY CRAP!") however, when I pointed this out, he said, "But I really wanted to get it for you - so I did.")

However, we are still pretty early in our relationship stages. We always seem to be getting each other little trinkets and mini-presents cuz we like to.

I think holidays are whatever you make them out to be. I know for some people - Christmas is not a big deal, but Halloween is THE holiday. I think it just depends.

The boy and I just had a talk as the V-Day approached. He said, "what are we doing?"

I said, "Not dinner out - too crowded"

He said, "Ok - I'll cook dinner"

I said, "We can watch a sappy movie"

He said, "Ok - you can pick it"

I said, "Are we doing gifts?"

He said, "Up to you."

I said, "I'd like to get you something."

He said, "ok"

The end - and our holiday was born.

I think that's kind of how it goes for everyone. Like Mardi Gras means nothing to me, but I will "celebrate" st. patricks day.

The neat thing about being an ex-jw - I get to pick and choose which holidays are important to me as an adult, kind of a blank page to make my own holiday traditions.

Swan you should have said something sooner - I would have got you a valentine!

the_classicist

Easter is not a kids holiday. Bunnies have only been introduced recently by corporations to add a secular product to the holiday.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ after his Passion on Good Friday. I think its funny how the JWs point out how the name Easter has pagan connotations. Yes it does, but in other languages they don't use the word Easter. In the Orthodox Church it is called the Great Pasch and in the Roman tradition it is called Resurrection Sunday

AuntieJane

You know, to me the fact that you bought him a card says something. I'd say go ahead and still give it to him...and I can't help but feel the vibes that say you kind of wish you had received something a little special from him. It is like anything, if we want to receive, we sometimes have to give...it is a life lesson of sorts, showing others that certain things make us feel good, happy, etc...and they in return can feel the same.

I definitely feel all holidays are commercially overrated but that does not keep me from participating in the "moment" of the holiday. And Easter and Christmas come first due to their Christian significance to me. But I love all holidays!

I do NOT agree that JW's are right on renouncing holidays; I think they have done more damage to people than the commercialism has done.

Hope this makes sense, I don't post much!

Is Valentine's Day Overrated?

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