For as long as I can remember, I’ve been anti-Valentine’s Day.
I don’t like the way
that buying twelve red roses on the same day of each year is hailed as being
the ultimate romantic gesture when it’s actually the most unoriginal idea in
the world. I don’t like the tacky teddies holding hearts saying ‘I love you’.
And I definitely don’t like the public displays of affection that accompany all
of this clichéd gift-giving.
Another of my many pet peeves regarding Valentine’s Day is the
way that, for some strange reason, it’s the men that are supposed to shower
pink champagne, truffles and roses down upon their girlfriends, whilst women
seem to get away with buying their man a card. How is this fair? Why is it
always the men that are expected to do the spoiling? Ladies, is it not enough
that he buys you gifts on your birthday and Christmas, and perhaps a chocolate
egg at Easter? If you’re the type of girl that has always loved Valentine’s Day
then great, swap as many extravagant yet completely unoriginal gifts as you
like, just don’t expect to be able to sit back and accept all of your goodies
without giving something back. And if you’re the kind of guy that just LOVES
chucking your money down the drain on a bunch of overpriced roses that are
going to be dead within a week even though you know you’re going to get bugger
all in return, then I guess that’s just your choice.
And it’s because I frequently burst into rants such as the
one above that I feel like a hypocrite when I admit that, actually, my
boyfriend and I did celebrate Valentine’s Day this year – albeit in a very
low-key way. We bought each other cards, exchanged small thoughtful gifts and
indulged in the Waitrose Valentines Meal for Two (which turned out to be an
absolute steal after his employee discount – score!). Perhaps I’m being
small-minded and unromantic, but I don’t really see the need to go more
overboard than this – which is lucky really, because my student budget
definitely wouldn’t stretch further anyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment