Valentine’s Day, is becoming like Halloween.

fancyflowers

I recently watched 'Picnic at Ayers Rick's which began with the girls' Valentine's celebrations. It seemed to be a huge event in their schooldays.

Great film. ( sorry off topic)

"St Valentine is the Patron Saint of beekeepers and epilepsy."

Now this I didn't know and it has cheered me up immensly. Where is the link between the two ?
I don't dislike V day because I'm miserable but because has meant expensive cards /or no cards for me/ or no date so embarrassing and awkward.
As I've said I'm eternally grateful for my sister's being born on the 14th so she has always(no offence) been a deflection.
Also being a Brit all that over the top luvvy stuff makes me a bit uncomfortable.

The young folk have a new version called Galentine's Parties, where you invite your schoolfriends and have night in with them.

Yes, I too have heard of Galentine's Day but took it to mean treating a Gal (female) friend to a thoughtful gift, a little posy from the garden, home baking or something made especially for them. I think both versions sound lovely, very kind

I'm with you on that.

I'm constantly single, never had a partner by choice, no family of any sort, and I can't abide all the stupid Valentine stuff, and other yearly things rammed down my throat - Christmas, Halloween, Mother's/Father's day, Easter, Bonfire Night, New Year and any others, that I have absolutely no interest in and never celebrate at all.

It's just another way of getting people to pay a fortune for tat.

TheWeirdoAgain60

I'm with you on that.

I'm constantly single, never had a partner by choice, no family of any sort, and I can't abide all the stupid Valentine stuff, and other yearly things rammed down my throat - Christmas, Halloween, Mother's/Father's day, Easter, Bonfire Night, New Year and any others, that I have absolutely no interest in and never celebrate at all.

It's just another way of getting people to pay a fortune for tat.

That sounds very bitter and smacks of raining on everyone elses parade.

You sound rather like Mr Gradgrind in Dicken's Bleak House. I am sure you have your secret pleasures and moments of joy.

You may have no interst in the traditional celebrations but other people do, and it is a very sweeping declaration that everything sold for these events are tat. Bear in mind that by saying that you are dismissing many people's engagement rings, wedding rings and many treasured and useful possessions.

My DD is single and childless by choice, but it has never stopped her enjoying herself and getting pleasure out of life. Last Saturday we all went to the Lux Muralis light show at Ely cathedral. It was stunning and we were all entranced.

I've only ever had one Valentine's card in my life (insert sad smiley here!)

I dislike Valentines Day and do not celebrate.

Give me Halloween any day though. But I am a crazy American.

Thank you, Maremia. Splashing out on a heart-shaped box of chocs. from Fortnum's once a year helped to lift the inspissated gloom of February, and was cheap at the price.

We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day or halloween but do celebrate Easter and Christmas as Christian festivals. To each his own. Just ignore what you don’t like.

You are welcome grumppa. Enjoy those chocs.

Yes, imaround, I love Hallowe'en.

Good advice DamaskRose, to each their own.

Graceless

I've only ever had one Valentine's card in my life (insert sad smiley here!)

To be honest I cannot remember whether I have ever had one. It is possible but it did not make a lasting impression.

I wouldn't mind the shops, if it weren't for the "Ideas for Valentine's" emails. Every shop I have ever bought anything from online seems to want me to buy something from them to mark the Feast of St Valentine. If I succumbed to them all I would have bought:
Macadamia and francinsense Man balm
frozen dog treats
New wide-fit shoes
A subscription to a finance app
An Iphone 17 pro starting at £1099
Wooden toys for my grandchildren - eh?
A discount off a thing for hanging up clothes
A frying pan
A photobook
A mail order pork pie
Not to mention piles of chocolates and mounds of flowers.

I'm with you, Oreo. It is possible to celebrate the love you feel for your spouse/ partner without spending "a fortune on tat".
My son and daughters will give homemade cards. Favourite meals will be cooked. Cakes may be baked.
A successful marriage is something to mark, surely?
I have no personal skin in this game - I'm a long- divorced woman.

I quite like Valentine's Day although we don't really celebrate
What gets me though is the media phrase 'Valentine's.
Valentine's what? If they mean Valentine's Day why don't they say so?
Any other saint's Day has the word Day attached.

I have just heard on the tv that Valentine’s Day is second only to Christmas, commercially speaking.
I think one sees more rubbish for Hallowe’en in the shops but I guess that people spend more on flowers and chocolates than Halloween tat.

When my Dad died, the funeral director advised her to have red carnations instead of the red roses she wanted on his coffin, as his funeral was the day before Valentine’s Day and roses were SO expensive.

I buy hubby a card, he usually forgets to reciprocate 😂. We tend not to do gifts unless he nips out to get a card and picks up some flowers 😂

I am so tired of USA right now that I no longer buy American goods (not that I ever have bought many) and just as soon as a European produced replacement for Microsoft WIndows is produced, I shall buy it.

Perhaps we could get rid of all these tacky American celebrations: Valentine's Day, the American form of Halloween, Black Friday, and I have even heard of Europeans starting to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Chocolatelovinggran It is possible to celebrate the love you feel for your spouse/ partner without spending "a fortune on tat".

We spend little celebrating our lovely family. No tat.

Always February heart crockery, cakes, biscuits, gorgeous meal.

I make cards with our GC and GGC. We make flour/salt rolled dough, cut into hearts and paint 'decorations' an easy child activity.

Grannmarie

We were married on Valentine's Day fifty three years ago. It was snowing. It will be my first wedding anniversary without DH, but I have kept last year's card from him so I will display that beside his photo. ❤️

I'm sure it will be bittersweet for you , sorry for your loss .

Tomorrow is my first anniversary although we have been together for many years .

AuntieE, Valentine's Day is not an American celebration, tacky or otherwise.

Thank you, Hellsbelles, love your name!
Congratulations for your first Valentine's anniversary tomorrow.💐

Grannmarie

We were married on Valentine's Day fifty three years ago. It was snowing. It will be my first wedding anniversary without DH, but I have kept last year's card from him so I will display that beside his photo. ❤️

I have Valentine cards from the last few years sent by my late DH and have put them up in the bedroom every year since, just for my eyes in case people think I'm silly. I had kept a whole boxful of b'day, Christmas, anniversary cards etc from DH but sadly they were all lost with a couple of other boxes on one of our many moves.
I hope the day goes better than you expect Granmarie, take care.