This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCD chapter.
Valentine’s Day, originating as a celebration of fertility, has since, taken a turn into a Hallmark holiday. This over-commercialized holiday spreads its roots all the way back to 496 A.D, but the modernized version is a little different. The holiday was created by combining two similar holidays into one. One celebration, was the Festival of Lupercalia, in which the spirits were cleansed from city thus releasing health and fertility. The second holiday was the celebration of St. Valentine, who performed secret marriage ceremonies during the time that marriages were banned. Celebrations consisted of lavish feasts and parades, but weren’t centered directly around couples. In this day and age, on the fourteenth of February, millions present their significant other with candy, cards and romantic memorabilia. Restaurants fill their capacity with starry-eyed couples eager to celebrate the culmination of their relationship on this one special evening. Even convenience stores like the Fast and Easy (aka Sleazy) Mart in Davis have romance spewing from their overcrowded shelves. Buried beneath all the teddy bears, candy hearts, flowers and chocolate, is a bigger question: When did Valentines Day become a celebration of love just for couples?
Love is prevalent in everyones’ lives and Valentine’s Day should not just be limited to the goo-goo eyed canoodling couples. Why not defy cupid and celebrate the presence of love in your life, whether it’s love with family, friends or simply yourself? Relish in the opportunity to have an amazing time, sans lover. No tissues, ice cream, or sappy romance movies needed!
- Who to Invite? First, you need to decide who you want to celebrate with. We all love our parents, but they may not appreciate you being the third wheel for their special evening out. So, if you’re not headed home, get a group of single ladies or single ladies and “gentlemen” together and let the games begin.
- Setting the Mood: If you’re geared towards keeping the celebration centered around this passionate holiday, indulge wholeheartedly. Decorations to the extreme and heart shaped food are great, but skip out on the sappy music. Warning: Wine plus sappy music on Valentines Day usually results in tears, so double check your music selection. This is a day for reveling in the glory of being single, not moping about it.
- Fun Food: Whip out the wine/champagne/mock-cocktails/grape juice and let the party begin. Good food is a necessity! Have each guest bring over their favorite dish (healthy or not), all are welcome. Chocolate covered strawberries are strongly encouraged.
- Games (And no, not hard to get): Think of doing a corny gift exchange, so each person receives something from a “secret lover”. Candy, flowers, obnoxious singing animals, or some sexy underwear make for an evening full of good laughs. Exchange bad date stories, sing karaoke and play charades relating to Valentine’s day. Maybe even return to high school and bring back those “daring” games we all used to play: spin the bottle, seven minutes in heaven, ten fingers and truth or dare.
The possibilities for your evening are endless: with good friends, risque games, and delicious food, you may even have your best Valentine’s Day yet!