Valentine's Day. Those two words either elicit feelings of bitterness, indifference, or of course love. We all have our different ways of spending the holiday. Some spend it with a significant other while some treat it as a day no different than any other.
Have you ever wondered how other people spend the holiday? Well, I've got some answers for you, and some of them honestly shocked me.
Single or Taken?
On Valentine's Day, you're either two things: single or taken. There's really not much else, but surprisingly enough, of the people that I asked about their relationship status, an overwhelming majority were single. 50 of the 85 voted being single going into the holiday. So if you're one of the single ladies (or guys), don't worry because you aren't alone.
Extravagant Gifts
Most people associate Valentine's Day with grand, often expensive, gestures between partners. Sometimes, it can be as simple as flowers and chocolate (which I'd take any day. hint, hint. ;) ) to something like jewelry. But the question is: do people actually expect those things? I asked 75 people and the vast majority said no (59 no's and 6 yes's). So if you're one of those people scrambling for an idea to gift your significant other, don't worry! They might not even want a fancy gift. It's the thought that counts, right?
More pressure on the guy or the girl?
Like I mentioned before, there is a lot of pressure that faces the holiday, not only just to pick out a gift but also to do the "romantic" thing, or just to even be in a relationship at all. But who faces more of that pressure? The majority opinion seems to believe that there is more pressure on the guy than the girl in the relationship during this holiday (65 votes for guy, 10 for girl). In my opinion, people focus too much on the material side of the holiday which is why there's pressure on either party in the first place.
Solitude or Friendship?
It's a common thing for single girls to get together on Valentine's Day and celebrate in "Galentine's Day" as a way of participating in the holiday without being alone and instead surrounded by friends. (Is there a guy equivalent? Let a girl know.) There's also those who choose to spend the holiday alone at home with what makes them most comfortable or relaxed. This question gave about a 50/50 result with 28 people saying they would spend the holiday alone and 29 voting to spend the night with friends.
Bitter being single?
Sometimes, it's natural to be bitter or sad that you're single. We all want someone to vent to or cuddle with on those cold winter nights, but there are still those people that enjoy being single. When I asked people if being single made them bitter, most said no. (16 for yes, 48 for no). To those, 16 yes's let me just say that you are great on your own, so embrace your individuality and go eat some cake. I promise it'll make you feel better.
Physical Intimacy
Valentine's Day has always been portrayed as the most romantic holiday and somehow it has become synonymous with displays/acts of physical intimacy. We always see couples engaging in acts of physical intimacy in movies on Valentine's Day, but do people really think that has to happen in order for the holiday to be considered romantic? Surprisingly, most people said no. (74 no's, 4 yes's). While it is definitely okay to be physically intimate on Valentine's Day, don't think it HAS to happen.
Whether you're spending Valentine's Day single or taken, with friends or alone, or bitter and sad, don't let the stigma around the holiday influence how you spend it. It is, after all, just another day that someone way back when assigned a meaning to. You get to choose how the day goes. However you choose to spend it, make Valentine's Day 2019 a good one!
