Since grade school, Valentine’s Day has meant something to everyone. In elementary school, it was all about who gave you what Valentine, because of course if it had anything with a heart or some kind of mushy doesn’t-mean-a-thing symbol on it, you automatically assumed that person liked you.
Then, there was middle school; a time when you ditched the classroom Valentines and moved on to getting one or two for those closest to you, whether they be a significant other (but really, in middle school they were a good friend you held hands with) or close friend. Oh, and of course in high school it was completely about the opposite sex. February 14 turned into a stereotypical holiday when certain people got more gifts and others wallowed in their loneliness.
How much of what we see in Valentine’s Day is influenced by movies though? It pops up in a movie once in a while or it gets its own movie all to itself (creatively entitled, “Valentine’s Day”). But how is Valentine’s Day portrayed in these movies that give us the views we have? For example, unlike in “Valentine’s Day”, most kids are not able to sneak away from their babysitters or walk into a flower shop and buy a dozen roses with only a fraction of the money on hand. It just doesn’t happen. And as much as we would like to think there’s a Bradley Cooper out there sitting next to a Julia Roberts and helping her get home to her loved one for the holiday — there probably isn’t.
This movie does have a little bit of reality to it, and maybe that’s one place we get our ideas from. Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner portray the overly-in-love teenagers where the guy spends a lot on a short-term girlfriend and the girl does something she believes is cute, like getting him a jersey with her lucky number on it. And back to Julia Roberts; there are plenty of parents overseas separated from their children on, what could be, a very special day for the relationship.
My favorite part of the movie is one that is actually true: Anti-Valentine’s Day parties. I find it very comedic that a woman goes through all the trouble in the world to make sure she isn’t alone on V-Day, but rather than snagging herself a guy for an intimate evening, she hangs out with a group of people who feel the same way she does about the holiday. There really are parties like that, though, believe it or not. Host one if you’re single and invite all your stag friends!
Now, another movie that doesn’t revolve around V-Day itself but rather the notion of love is “Sex and the City”. Again, the movie may not completely accurate, but when it came to the Valentine's Day scene, I know a few viewers could definitely relate. Having a little niece or cousin or nephew or any child can give you a small Valentine just melts your heart, admit it. I get one every year and mine melts every time.
One of the best lines used in the movie is by Miranda while she and Carrie are at dinner and there are hundreds of decorations for the holiday surrounding them. Miranda says, “Is Valentine’s Day on steroids this year?” and Carrie replies that it was that way because the previous year they both “played for the other team” by having significant others. This is reality right here. The broken hearted or newly single or even regularly single girls get together with each because they have someone else who shares in their dread of the lonely day.
The day might make a single girl cringe if she’s been through a heartbreak, but it always seems to bring single friends together and there really is no better way to spend a romantic day than with someone you’re not romantic with in any way.
So what really happens on V-Day? For those in a good relationship it usually involves the man spending way too much money on a gift or flowers or chocolate because he wants to make his girl’s day special. They might go out to dinner at a nice restaurant (AKA O’Charley’s, Ruby Tuesday, Applebees or Shogun in Farmville) and if the guy really wants to go all out he’ll buy her a sweet gift ... that usually means jewelry (For those who don’t want to spend money, there’s no shame in a D-Hall V-Day Dinner).
One last thing I’ve noticed on Valentine’s Day: either people messed up their laundry and ended up with a lot of pink and red outfits or they choose to go along with the typical colors of the day.
Back to movies, though, there is always a romantic comedy or love story that comes out on or around Valentine’s Day. Think back. Last year: “The Lucky One.” This year: “Safe Haven.” Oh, Nicholas Sparks, you never seem to let us down with the V-Day tearjerkers.
*** This editorial is an opinion stated by the writer and does not represent the views of The Rotunda or Longwood University.
