Have you by any chance checked the calendar lately? Then you probably already noticed that we are slowly approaching the so-called ‘Season of Love’. Starting off strong with the very much adored (or dreaded) Valentine’s Day, on the 14th of February. Just a couple more days to plan the perfect day! …or not.
While most couples are excited and looking forward to the arrival of the most romantic time of the year, I could not believe how many people I stumbled upon that have no desire of seeing any happy pair that day, online or in real life. The cold truth is, the concept of ‘Love is dead’ is spread more and more with each passing day. Maybe you or a friend got heartbroken in the past, or you watched a painful movie, read a tragic love story.. probably everyone has been there at a certain point in their life. But why does Valentine’s day have to be shrunk to a day for celebrating only romantic love? Is it not just as appealing to spend a day simply honoring love?
If we were to check an official definition in a dictionary, “love” would be described as “an intense feeling of deep affection”. No romance mentioned right? Moreover, with a quick research on Valentine’s Day it is quite easy to discover that its original purpose had no connection to actual love. Now, I don’t mean to be a killjoy. I think the approach altogether is quite beautiful. What I am actually trying to emphasize is that the 14th of February should be a day of celebration, whether you have a partner or not.
While diving deeper into the subject and reading about worldwide customs, I also happened to notice that while Valentine’s Day is translated to “Lovers’ Day” in many languages, there are also a few that break the pattern. In some countries, it is “Love and Friendship’ Day”, “Affection Day” or just “Friend’s Day”. Even in Sweden, the holiday is called “Alla hjärtans dag”. “All Hearts’ Day”. So instead of the widely translated “Lovers’ Day”, why would it not be possible to adopt simply “Love Day”? A day where you can enjoy the presence of the people you love the most – lover, friends, family or even yourself. There should be no prejudices or constraints on how you decide to spend this day as long as you spend it loving.
Personally coming from a country that doesn’t celebrate it at all, February 14th used to be just another normal day for me. Maybe I would notice a few signs and special offers around town in the more progressive restaurants and stalls. However, at the end of the day, I would still feel like it should have been a bigger deal. Why did I end up spending a day that was meant for love just normally carrying on with my routine? Ever since moving to Sweden, I have made it one of my personal goals to make the most out of everything. So, if you might find yourself in a similar situation, why not take a leap of fate and make the most out of this year’s Valentine’s Day?
Yes, plan that date with your partner! Ask your crush out for a drink! Go to that party! Spend a nice evening with your friends or family! Or just bake some cookies, grab a blanket and cozy-up for a good movie. It doesn’t have to be anything too expensive or extravagant. Just enough to make you feel like you can close your eyes in the evening and think “Wow! This was a great day to love!”
What do you say? There is still time to turn “Lover’s Day” to “Love Day”! How will you spend Valentine’s Day this year?
Writer: Briana Zafiu
