Why Valentine’s Day is All About the Money
From the 16th century to the 18th century Valentine’s “gifts” comprised solely of poetry exchanged between lovers. Finally, in the 1800s with the rise of industrialization and the birth of capitalism, Valentine’s Day completely changed.
In Victorian England, paper Valentines were so popular they were printed in mass with verses and sentiments written within. Companies now seeing the profits of mass-produced cards had to capitalize on the holiday’s potential.
The British chocolate company, Cadbury, began to sell boxes of chocolates made for Valentine’s Day. In the 1900s, jewelry was tailored as the perfect gift to give to your Valentine. The holiday became even more commercialized as the world became more commercialized, markets expanded and production became cheaper.
Walk into any store and you’ll see a section full of an assortment of candy tailored just Valentines, flowers, stuffed animals with big hearts on them, an array of cards, and more. Advertisements everywhere pushing their product as the perfect gift for your Valentine, one that will make them feel extra special.
Valentine’s day is no better than Black Friday, a holiday dedicated to consumerism. Some say, “Well of course Valentine’s Day is all about buying gifts, it’s a day where you show your love and affection.” Well, shouldn’t every day be a day you show your lover love and affection?
I think it’s cool we have a day for couples to be extra romantic, but I also feel like Valentine’s Day is less about showing love, and more about buying and giving gifts. The first emergence of romance on Valentine’s Day, a letter or a poem written just for your lover, seems like the best way to celebrate the holiday. What better way to show your love than a poem or letter written straight from the heart?
