Why is Valentine’s Day a big deal? Isn’t it just a made up holiday? Shouldn’t we be showing our love for each other every day?

For a holiday that’s supposed to be all about love, after tax time, Valentine’s Day seems to be the one holiday that’s the most hated. Whether it’s a single person for whom the day serves as a reminder of heartbreak, or a couple that wonders “what’s the point?” the day tends to get a pretty bad rap.

I get it. Although I’ve spent most of my adult Valentine’s Days with a Valentine, the holiday doesn’t carry the excitement of some of the others. For me it ends up being a day of labeling drugstore Valentine’s cards for the kids’ classmates and eating sub-par candy. Plus Valentine’s Day comes right before my birthday, so in my mind, it takes away from the real holiday.

But that still doesn’t mean that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be celebrated. I’ve listed five reasons why you should celebrate Valentine’s Day anyway, regardless of the common objections and circumstances.

1. Because you shouldn’t care that it’s a made up holiday. I’ve often heard the objection to Valentine’s Day that it is a day manufactured by card companies. It’s a made up holiday, so it shouldn’t be celebrated. This is true. Valentine’s Day is a made up holiday. You know what other holidays are made up? All of them. Every. Last. One. Holidays didn’t just enter into existence at the dawn of creation. God did not make the rivers, the valleys, and Grandparent’s Day. At some point in time, someone made up every holiday we celebrate for some reason. Even the current versions of our religious holidays most often don’t resemble the original. Valentine’s Day started as a religious holiday itself before it was commandeered in the 1800s as a romantic holiday.  If you don’t want to support the card manufacturers, the simple solution is to not buy a card. Which brings me to….

2. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a nice Valentine’s Day Now, some of this will depend on the expectations of the couple. If you’ve been showering your wife with extravagant Valentine’s Day gifts every year, don’t spend $5 this year and blame me for the reaction you get. But celebrating your love for one another doesn’t have to be over the top. I’m not big on flowers and candy. Last year my husband bought me some specialty teas and a new tea kettle, which I’ve been able to put to use for a lot longer than a box of chocolates. Small and thoughtful can be just as nice as big and extravagant, if you get creative and put some thought into it.

3. You don’t have to go out. Outside of our first Valentine’s Day where I came down with some mutant virus at dinner and spilled chocolate all over the interior of my now-husband’s car, I can think only think of one other time in nine years that my husband and I went out for Valentine’s Day. We cook a nice meal together, play a game or watch a movie, and just enjoy our time together, which may be with or without the kids.

4. You can celebrate if you’re single. Who says you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day how you want to celebrate it? It’s not law that you have to show your love to a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse. Take some time to show love to whoever you want to, even if that person is you. There are plenty of ways to celebrate being head-over-heels in love with you on this day.

5. But, shouldn’t we show our love for each other every day? Yes!! Waiting around for February 14 to come every year to show your love for your partner is problematic.  We should be showing love to our spouses, in ways big and small, 365 days a year. That said, we should also celebrate life every day, but that doesn’t mean that your birthday isn’t special. If you already celebrate your love for one another every day, make it another day to celebrate. What’s wrong with doing just that?

BMWK – Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Why or why not?