Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (2024)

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Single, anti-consumerist or just not a romantic? From petty heartbreak healers to anti-Valentine’s Day parties, groups are finding ways to resonate with naysayers.

Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (1)

Lilly Calman is not in the mood this Valentine’s Day for the flowers, chocolates or a romantic dinner for two, especially after a recent breakup.

“I’m very angry,” said Ms. Calman, 26, adding that it had been painful to see all the holiday paraphernalia in store aisles.

She found a more fitting outlet for her mood this year: a fund-raiser for the San Antonio zoo that will symbolically name a roach or rodent after an ex and feed it to one of the zoo’s animals.

“The visual image of him getting eaten by a Komodo dragon is pretty satisfying,” said Ms. Calman, who donated $25 for the rat option. She is hoping the zoo sends her a video so she can host a screening with a friend. “I love reptiles. I think it’s cool.”

The annual campaign has raised over $235,000 since the zoo first ran it in 2020, underscoring the appeal of alternative Valentine’s Day rituals for people who are uninterested in the coupledom of it all.

The traditions of Valentine’s Day bring strong feelings, both for and against. Do you appreciate a cute tradition? Or do you hold it in contempt as a consumerist scam? Critics have blamed it for upholding a narrow-minded model of relationships as heterosexual and monogamous.

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Hate Valentine’s Day? There’s a Market for You, Too. (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when you hate Valentine's day? ›

Many, on the other hand, associate the holiday with feelings of depression, loneliness, and desperation. The most common reason that you would grow to hate Valentine's Day is that you only consider it to be a celebration of couples and romantic love.

Why do so many people break up on Valentine's day? ›

Dissatisfaction: Valentine's Day can be a time for reflection and for some people it might be the final straw where they realise they can't make the declaration of love that's expected on this day and that their feelings for their partner aren't what they should be.

What to do if you hate Valentine's day? ›

If you find yourself becoming a hate Valentine's Day naysayer, take a moment to reconsider the inherent purpose of this occasion and how you can make it special in new and creative ways that buck convention. A day devoted to romance will add excitement to your relationship.

How do you reject Valentine's Day? ›

If you don't want to, then tell them straight up so they don't get misled. Make it clear you only want to be friends, and don't hint around the subject because it could be unclear or misread. Also, don't do it through text or social media, talk to them in person and be very honest.

Why do some couples not celebrate Valentine's Day? ›

Spontaneous Affection Is Way More Fun

Many long-term couples like to surprise their significant other with gifts and love notes throughout the year, which means Valentine's Day doesn't always feel necessary.

Is it okay to not want to celebrate Valentine's Day? ›

“Ultimately, V-Day is often a day to express love and affection toward your partner, so for those who have personal reasons for not wanting to celebrate, I encourage them just to see it as another day to express love for the person(s) in their life who deserve their flowers 365 days of the year.” So even if one half of ...

Is it OK to not have a Valentine? ›

There is no rule that you need to celebrate or even acknowledge Valentine's Day. However, don't let social media, store displays, or stories of others make you feel bad about your relationship status. February 14th is just one day of the year. There is no reason why you can't treat it as though it's just another day.

What is anti-valentine's day? ›

It has nothing to do with the feeling of love; instead it is for people who are single or out of love. The seven days after Valentine's Day, called the Anti-Valentine's Week, begins from Slap Day on February 15 and go on till February 21 which is Breakup Day.

How many couples break up after Valentine's day? ›

Some research has shown that around one in 14 US adults had broken up with somebody on Valentine's Day. That's 7% of people, with 6% saying that they had broken up just before and another 6% breaking up just afterwards. So that's 19% of people surveyed who had experienced a breakup around Valentine's Day.

Why do so many couples break up in February? ›

It's probably because of the stress that some holidays can cause. As fun as holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day can be, they can also bring with them a lot of work and pressure that can bring out the worst in people's personalities. They can even dig up some buried and unresolved issues.

Is Valentine's day losing popularity? ›

Some have lost their love for the heart-shaped holiday.

That's especially true among Gen Zers (53%) and millennials (51%). However, that mentality doesn't hold true for all: 45% of Americans say they've skipped the holiday to save money, and over half (52%) say they'd avoid it altogether if they could.

Should I be mad if my boyfriend doesn t do anything for Valentines Day? ›

Consider if your relationship status warrants a gift.

If you're upset about a missed Valentine's Day and your partner doesn't appear concerned or apologetic, this can be a bad sign. This is especially true if your significant other even goes so far as to tease or admonish you for caring about the holiday.

What to do if your partner doesn t like Valentine's Day? ›

It's not about getting your own way

"And so if the stereotypical act that people expect for Valentine's Day — a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates — doesn't feel right to one of the partners, they can come up with a list of things that feel right to them, that would also communicate love."

How do you deal with disappointment on Valentine's Day? ›

1. Don't pile on the pressure. If your partner doesn't have the same sentimental feelings about this particular date in February, so be it. Don't indulge in destructive thoughts about what your partner's actions on Valentine's Day “mean” about your relationship.

What not to write in a Valentine's card? ›

1) Never write love if you mean like.

Writing "I love you." to someone you'd like to know better or to an old flame will get you in trouble. The new person may get scared off. And the old flame will get the wrong message. Unless you're really trying to get back together.

What is the superstition for Valentine's Day? ›

If you find a glove on the road on Valentine's Day, your beloved will have the other missing glove. If a girl chooses six names and chants them as she twists the stem of an apple, the stem will break as she says the name of her true love. A kiss on Valentine's Day will bring good luck for the rest of the year.

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