Valentine’s Day is the day when the world expects everyone to be in love and fall in love 10 times in 24 hours.
While the pressure is on and many, especially the younger generation, enjoy it, others are adamant about not allowing it to affect them in any way. They believe love should be expressed all year round.
Opinions differ and, for many, Valentine’s Day is of no particular significance. While they acknowledge it, they refuse to give it any unnecessary attention.
Tanya Sawyer detests it: “It sets standards... you expect things, you have to act romantic and you have to fake it all day. I believe love is shown everyday, not on Valentine’s Day only.” This, she says, is manifested by those small gestures you do for that one special person.
“From a single person’s point of view, Valentine’s Day is a constant reminder of being single. If it’s not the couple kissing continuously in front of you, it will generally be somebody who approaches you asking about the reason behind your single status. This is usually followed by ‘Oh well, maybe next year...’”
Airline pilot Eric Cordina says he is not much of a fan either. “I ignore all the fanfare, advertising and so on. I do, however, buy my wife Claire some flowers and we also go out for dinner, though usually not on the day itself.”
Meanwhile, Claire Portelli says she does not like anything that is overrated and “forced upon couples” and this applies both to Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve. “There is nothing natural in these events. The date does not dictate romance. It’s is for teens to kill time and has no effect on me whatsoever. At 40, I’m either in love or I’m not. February 14 certainly does not change that.”
Valentine’s Day is every day, says Nicke Vella De Fremeaux, or so it should be. It is not the sending of cards or flowers on one day of the year that indicates one’s love but the respect, consideration and sacrifices that true love is based on.
Similarly, Jo Magri says that, if you truly love someone, everyday can be Valentine’s Day and not just the day itself.
“True love doesn’t need flowers or chocolates to make itself known; it requires only respect, honesty and trust.”