The dust is settling from Valentine's Day. I was on the subway today heading to class when a throng of teenagers entered the subway car with fistfuls of balloons and flowers and overstuffed teddy bears and hearts all over the place declaring the words "I LOVE YOU." It is nearly impossible to dodge from the hype of Valentine's Day. Beginning just after New Years, all of the stores begin to stuff the shelves with heart shaped boxes of chocolates, red and pink stuffed animals, a gigantic selection of cards and images of flowers. Flowers, flowers, flowers. Valentines day seems to be more of a holiday for businesses rather than for the people.
Unlike other holidays, there is a prevalent "popularity contest" on Valentine's Day. In the consumerist society that we live in, it becomes a competition of who can buy more, and who can get more gifts. Especially in middle school, the day seems to turn into this competition and popularity contest. I overheard a girl on the subway exclaim, "Jeremy got me like six boxes of chocolates and this big stuffed animal," to which her friend lamented, "Derek just gave me flowers."
At this age when it is so utterly important to fit in amongst your peers, a day like Valentine's Day could be doomsday to those without a significant other.
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