As Valentine’s Day approaches, couples and single people alike can expect to be inundated with love, the color pink and…blatant overconsumption? In the US alone, approximately 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year, many of which end up in landfills, along with 145 million greeting cards, according to Business Waste
Although Valentine’s Day is known as a holiday of love, for many people, it is a day where they are expected to buy chocolates, flowers, teddy bears and more for their significant others, according to History.com. Instead of buying into consumerism, people should focus on expressing love in meaningful ways, whether through heartfelt letters, acts of kindness or simply spending quality time with loved ones. A genuine connection holds more value than any store-bought gift, as love is not measured by price tags. Shifting away from materialism can make the holiday more authentic and fulfilling.
“It’s a holiday that’s been exploited by a bunch of companies,” senior Vy Tran said. “People feel pressured to feed into the expectations of giving their partners gifts during Valentine’s Day because it’s a day of love, but I think that should be done throughout the year. It shouldn’t be done on a day that makes you overspend on a box of chocolates.”
Even though Valentine’s Day is known as a day of love, it has shifted away from celebrating love to instead fueling a multi-billion-dollar industry that profits from unrealistic expectations. The pressure to buy expensive gifts can lead to unnecessary stress and feelings of inadequacy for those who cannot afford lavish presents.
“I think [giving gifts] puts a lot of pressure on people,” ASB director and social studies teacher Emily Sheridan said. “If you are giving someone something that is important to them, I think that is okay, but for a lot of people that is not really their love language.”
Some may argue that even though Valentine’s Day is a big day for gift-giving amongst couples, the core message of love still stands. Additionally, Valentine’s Day can be a day to celebrate platonic love, not just romantic love, according to sophomore Victor Chaves.
“I don’t think it’s ruined by consumerism, because even though a lot of gifts are bought on Valentine’s Day, it’s just add ons,” Chaves said. “Valentine’s Day at its core is just relationships and I don’t think it’s overrated because even single people can have a good time by celebrating with friends.”
In 2023 alone, Americans spent an estimated $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts, according to the National Retail Federation, with the average person spending $192.80 on chocolates, flowers and jewelry. Beyond the personal impact, mass consumerism also contributes to environmental waste.
Instead of feeding into these harmful habits, people should embrace more sustainable ways to express love for their other half. Handwritten letters, homemade meals and acts of kindness can carry far more emotional value than store-bought gifts. By shifting the focus from spending money to creating meaningful moments, Valentine’s Day can return to its roots as a celebration of love rather than consumer culture.
