Although some takes it as a very special day to remember a lover, I personally think it's a marketing ploy for businesses to make tonnes of business (many share the same thoughts as me on this one =p). Call it an excuse for a single guy, but I still think thus.
I mean think about it, and you can even look up in Wiki for Valentine's Day. Even in the 19th century, when Valentine's was brought to the US of A, and I quote from Wikipedia:
In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Actually we need not go so far, any definition of valentine's would surely state within it something about either "exchanging gifts" or "showing their love" or "sending a note/card". Through the evolution of time, from a simple paper lace, it is now modernly possible to express it through means that can cost a fortune!!
A survey conducted in the US states
that this year, both men and women plan on spending $119.67 on average Valentine's Day, up from $100.89 last year, with total 2007 spending for the holiday expected to reach $16.90 billion.
You see, in the US alone, Valentine's Day has become a billion dollar industry!!!
Even in the UK, it was recorded that an estimated 39 million stems of red roses came to the UK through the Dutch auctions during the Valentine's Day period in 2005. Imagine the numbers this year!! The source also states that the British spends around £40 million on flowers to say "I love you".
In summary, Valentine's Day is one of the greatest marketing ideas ever unleashed to mankind!!!
It makes you feel guilty about not spending money on a loved one, and it makes guys and girls alike think that the more money spent, the more love is expressed. And as for the singles, it makes you feel so miserable that you're alone, that you go out and buy something to comfort yourselves, be it to forget about the dreaded day, or just to feel better.
I still think that if you truly want to express your love towards someone, anytime and any gesture, as long as it is truly sincere, is the best. You don't need to wait till Valentine's Day just to show your loved one you love him/ her.
However, due to trends, it is still one of the best times to show a person that you love them. So... save up for your loved one as that day is approaching in a week's time !!
Lastly, just to give you a brief history of what Valentine's Day is about by a bunch of single guys, here is a video I found.
3 comments:
Valentines Day is round the corner and people everywhere are looking for gifts and ways to celebrate...and well it's a celebration of love and not just restricted to couples...there are a lot of things for singles to do....well to find out all the cool stuff just drop by my blog and find out all that i've posted there!!!
i guess many people (even couples) have the same thinking like yours, but what to do, St. Valentine has given us this day and people just wanna take this opportunity to be extra romantic on this day :)
j.wang: How do you know if all this was not a business ploy by St. Valentine's himself... ? I smell a conspiracy....
Sean Carter: I'm not saying it's restricted to just couples, in fact, I meant otherwise! And because of this, the others will spend like crazy as well, either to directly make themselves feel better, or to make others happy by buying something to indirectly make themselves feel better as well!! So it's all a business plan genius really....
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