With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, students express mixed opinions about the love-centered holiday
By Elise Murray ’12
It is the most romantic holiday of the year. The Hallmark holiday celebrates love and affection and is associated with cupid’s arrows, red roses and an assortment of chocolates. Feb. 14, otherwise known as Valentine’s Day, is almost upon us.
Although Valentine’s Day has a romantic history, many UAHS students are skeptical of the beliefs and traditions that come along with Feb. 14.
Sophomore Zac Stowe said he feels even though everybody is in a better mood on Valentine’s Day, it can also exclude some people.
“It’s what the day is all about: relationships,” Stowe said. “It can be bad for people who were just in a bad relationship.”
While Stowe said he thinks that Valentine’s Day is celebrated for couples, it was actually originally created to honor Saint Valentine. It had nothing to do with romance and couples during the time when the Roman empire was dominant around the world. Valentine’s Day has been around for centuries; however, the traditions such as cards and chocolates came along later.
Although many students appreciate the beliefs and traditions behind the beloved holiday, other UAHS students, such as junior Anna Crites, said this holiday of love is over-rated.
“It is just a day that most people don’t celebrate anyway,” Crites said. “I just don’t really see the whole point of a holiday like that. It’s over-rated.”
English teacher Dameion Wagner, however, speculates that while the holiday is over-rated, there are certain people it favors.
“[Well], I think it is over-rated only for people who do not have someone,” Wagner said.
Wagner, like many others, is not the only one favors the romance behind Valentine’s Day or the couples of the world.
During the time of Valentine’s Day’s origin, Saint Valentine or the creator of Valentine’s Day also favored those who had somebody, or the couples. The emperor of the time, Claudius II outlawed marriage in order to create a stronger army. Valentine, being a romantic, secretly began marrying couples against the law and without the emperor’s knowledge. Although eventually he was caught and sentenced to death for his crime, many people rejoiced with the power of love that he had instilled in them.
Although feelings about Valentine’s Day have decreased in UAHS, some people still believe in the purpose behind the holiday including sophomore Madison Means.
“I love Valentine’s Day,” Means said. “The purpose behind the holiday is love… It’s just a feel-good holiday.” •