Mixed feelings on Valentine’s Day

Michael Lown '15 said, “Every day should be Valentine's Day” because it's nice to feel loved. (Photo by Emily Bateman '15)

Is love in the air at Emerson College?

As February 14 approaches, students are sharing their true feelings about Valentine’s Day.

“I don’t really think about it,” said Lauren Hank ’14, one of several students interviewed on Boylston Street. “It’s nice to get candy. That’s really all it is—an excuse to get candy.”

Michael Lown ’15 feels differently. “Every day should be Valentine’s Day,” he said. “It’s a nice holiday to be with someone you love, to tell them you love them, show them you love them…it’s nice to have a day to do that.”

“I love Valentine’s Day,” said Victoria Masteller ’16. “I think that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a celebration about your significant other, but just about your friends and your family, too.”

Paulina Pascual ’15 echoes that sentiment. “I like Valentine’s Day because I can tell all my friends how much I love them,” she said. “I think I’m going to have a giant slumber party with some of my friends. I like the aspect of telling people that you appreciate them, and not necessarily needing someone significant.”

Masteller and Pascual aren’t alone. According to the National Retail Federation, 60 percent of people plan to buy Valentine’s Day gifts for their family members; and another 25 percent expect to give gifts to their friends.

Maria Franz '15 likes that Valentine's Day is “technically… a saint holiday.” (Photo by Emily Bateman '15)

“I don’t have a hatred for [Valentine’s Day] like most people do,” said Maria Franz ’15. “I know people think it’s some corporate holiday…but technically it’s a saint holiday, so I like that we kind of honor that. It’s a nice notion.”

The saint holiday Franz refers to has a cloudy history, as several stories exist surrounding its origin. The Catholic Encyclopedia recognizes three different Saint Valentines associated with February 14, all of whom were martyrs.

Today, Valentine’s Day falls behind Christmas as the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, with about 1 billion valentines sent annually, according to the Greeting Card Association.

“I just think it’s a Hallmark creation,” Megan Moritz ’15 said.

“I feel what originated as a fertility holiday quickly became commercialized,” said Andrew Gayter ’15. “Now it’s just broken up into two groups of people: the people in love and the people who have no one.”

Caitlyn Budnick ’15 expresses similar discontent. “I think Valentine’s Day is just kind of a stupid holiday, regardless of whether or not I have someone,” she said. “It’s just very Hallmark.”

Single or taken, excited or apathetic, Valentine’s Day means something different to everyone we asked. At the end of the day, Liz Gershman ’15 seems to sum it all up: “It’s just a time to feel cute and eat a lot of chocolate.”