Putting the hate in holiday

Valentine’s Day. To some, the holiday spells roses, chocolate and being with the person you care about the most.

To many others it reeks of consumerism and pseudo-affection — an isolated date that arbitrarily emphasizes love more than any other day of the year.

But why? Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, the apex of human emotion. In theory, that should be something to celebrate.

The anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment is widespread. Go to CafePress online and you can find literally thousands of products advocating an absence of love rather than an abundance of it.

American Greetings even has a small line of cards devoted to anti-Valentine’s Day. While the proportion is small, the cards were introduced in 2007 and still have purchasers.

“Some of our consumer research just revealed a suddenly more cynical look at the holiday,” said American Greetings Senior Communication Specialist Frank Cirillo. “People thought they could use some humor about it.”

It’s the holiday’s concept that is inherently polarizing for many. Ilyssa Hoffman, a sophomore, said being single doesn’t bother her, but she can see why it might bother others.

“It’s a holiday celebrating relationships or people being together,” she said. “What is that supposed to tell all the people who don’t have someone else like that?”

Hoffman is single for the first time in a long time this year; she spent her last three Valentine’s Days with her old boyfriend. Despite that, she said she has never been a fan of the holiday.

Many others dislike the pedestal Valentine's Day is put on.

“I look forward to it and intend to celebrate,” sophomore Alex Gordon said. “But I don’t think one day should be more special than any other when you’re with someone.”

Celebrities have talked about their disdain for the holiday, too. Ashton Kutcher and Carrie Underwood have gone on record as thinking the holiday is a waste of time.

But whether it’s simply a trend or a lasting school of thought, these days the holiday of love is sure experiencing a lot of hate.