Valentine’s Day: love it or hate it? With February 14th just around the corner, Indigo contributors reflect on what Valentine’s Day means to them

By Siobhan Eddie

Valentine’s Day, believe it or not, used to be a religious festival. It originated as a Christian feast day to honour two Christian martyrs (both named St. Valentine). Since then, however, it has become an almost entirely secular celebration – a day to celebrate love. Along with this secularisation has come extreme commercialisation. No doubt the name conjures up images of red roses, chocolate boxes and expensive presents, and social media has played its role in intensifying these connotations. Come 14th February, timelines are flooded with photos of couples celebrating their love in the most extravagant of ways.

the importance – even amid our busy lives –to spend quality time with the people I love. A film night with my friends, a cosy evening in with my partner or even just a phone call with my mum are all great ways to mark the day. After all, Valentine’s Day is not really about money, roses or chocolate, but simply about cherishing those relationships that mean something to you.

By Holly Downes

February the 14th is almost upon us. Cue the loved-up couples, a Tesco chocolate section rampage, and seductive red roses overtaking your Instagram feed. Valentine’s Day has become a celebration of romantic love, and manwy people think that it is a day reserved only for those who have found the one. A day dedicated to the lovers amongst us, and so, a day that excludes those that aren’t loved up. Yet, many forget that love takes all forms: yes, it can be romantic, but there is also philia (love of friends), philautia (self-love), and storge

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gifting me a card every year from “x”, who despite having the same handwriting as him is “definitely not him”. It’s a tradition which has continued during my time at University, with the card now arriving one to two days either side of the 14th rather than being mysteriously posted through the door. It’s a reminder from him that my sister and I are always worthy enough for a secret admirer.

capitalist construct, it’s also for

So while the day may be a capitalist construct, it’s also for family and traditions, even when I am no longer living at home, and a way to

Image credit: Rosie Bromiley make sure, every year, that I know what day it is.

By Elif Karakaya

A push and pull between the rose-tinted image and the stark reality, Valentine’s Day has always been my favourite holiday. Colouring the whole month in shades of red, it leaves its mark in February, asking if you will partake in it. Perhaps they are right - that this is a capitalistic delusion - and yet I cannot help but fawn over the fact that I can paint my nails red and wear my favourite outfit, almost as though it’s a festival. The stores are filled with bouquets of red roses, and the sweetest heart shaped décor you can only get once a year (even measuring spoons!).

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However, like Christmas, the day is never as sweet as the build-up of the month. The flowers, the necklace, even the homemade cake, each gesture hollower than the next, as though you are forced to give these things to your partner on this day, worse even than Christmas presents as the answers are given to us from childhood. I suppose there’s a di between observing and partaking in Valentine’s Day. I prefer to savour it alone, to maintain this image of it in my head, to keep my glasses on, as a witness from the outside.

By Roshni Suresh Babu

In the midst of the winter blues, the strange martyrdom of St Valentine emerges as a day to celebrate love. I admit, when I was younger, I never saw the appeal of Valentine’s Day (though this may have

Image credit (from top): Rosie Bromiley, Isobel Warwick has been time spent laughing about the occasion with friends or celebrating a ‘Galentine’s’. love or loathe the day, it is a day steeped in tradition, marked by the celebration of love in its many forms – familial, friendship and romantic. From heart-shaped chocolates to red bouquets,Valentine’s Day is a time to express love and a ection for those closest to you.

Now, as Valentine’s Day comes around again, I’m spending my second year with my partner, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the holiday. As much as I’ve somewhat ignored the festivities in the past, it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend more time together and make film@palatinate.org.uk

In the past, I have often viewed Valentine’s Day with a sense of comedic cynicism and have often celebrated a ‘Galentine’s Day’ with friends instead. In many ways, Valentine’s Day has become a highly commercialised construct, with companies utilising the day to market a mass of ‘Valentine’s products’ to consumers.Yet, despite this, it is important to remember that the true essence of Valentine’s Day transcends this materialistic aspect. While gifts can be a beautiful way of expressing love, it is not the only way, and simple acts of kindness, such as cooking a meal or taking the evening o to spend some quality time can carry far more meaning.

For me, Valentine’s Day has become a special day to spend time with my partner, creating memories that we will both cherish forever. Whether it’s a night in, a meal out or a trip to the bowling alley, the day serves as a sweet and welcome reminder of the love that we share, although we don’t need Valentine’s Day to remind us of that.