For some, Valentines Day is an excuse to wine and dine, enjoy quality time with your other half and exchange a lavish gift or two. For others? Not so much. In fact, it appears that much of the UK have indeed lost that loving feeling…*hit it Elvis*
Hailed by some as the ‘Hallmark Holiday’ the anti-V day crew amount to over half of UK couples according to a recent survey by Glowing Embers. That’s right, more than 50% – 58 to be precise of couples will not be celebrating Valentines Day this year.
So where did it all go wrong?
One of the top answers (though we’re going with excuses…) for the Valentines day snub is hailed as ‘cost and over commercialisation’. OK, we agree for the most part, but what’s the harm in getting involved? We’re all for an extra treat or excuse to indulge, no? Although perhaps this opinion is somewhat of a rarity these days, as 3/4 of those surveyed refuse to spend more than £20 on a gift. Is the romance dead or are we just turning our backs on February 14th in favour of authenticity?
Cupid’s arrow definitely got lost along the way somewhere, but perhaps it’s also due to the increasingly busy lifestyles we tend to leave. Work, work work, emails, more work, and by time you’re home you’ve collapsed on the couch with a takeout, a glass of Pinot Grigio and episode of Homeland. Yes, we’ve been guilty of this on several occasions ourselves…
Work commitments and tiredness were cited as further reasons for saying no to the hype. So this begs the question, is it time we all took more time out? If we can’t even clear an evening to spend with our loved one then maybe we should reevaluate our schedule. Or maybe you’re just part of the 25% that simply don’t believe in the concept.
Whichever camp you sit with, it should be remembered that Valentines Day doesn’t have to be a flashy, overpriced event. There are tonnes of ways in which you can show your love and appreciation which won’t break the bank. A home cooked dinner, running bath with candles on your return home from work or even a movie night are all quality ways in which to spend time together without the £8 card and tacky teddy bear. Soz but whoever decided that grown adult women have a want for teddy bears?
Will you be celebrating Valentines Day this year or will you be turning your back on the romance? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
