Valentine's Day

If there's something on your mind that just doesn't seem to fall into any of the other categories, well, it quite likely belongs inside Joe Finneman's marketplace. Think of it as a general store for general discussions!
Post Reply
User avatar
Bren
Be positive!
Posts: 6046
Joined: March 2008
Location: Behind the cash register
Gender:
Contact:

Valentine's Day

Post by Bren »

When we were kids, I'm sure we all passed out valentines at school. Now that I'm older and single, I usually don't put a whole lot of stock into celebrating. However, I'm curious. What does Valentine's Day mean to you?
ImageImageImage
logos linked
User avatar
Renata
I'm memorable
Posts: 1468
Joined: July 2006
Location: Riding my horse.
Gender:

Post by Renata »

I was homeschooled, so no passing out valentines at school, and I've never even been on a single date. The only valentines I've ever received were from my Grandma, and I've never sent any. Frankly, the holiday kinda depresses me, it simply reminds me that I've always been single, and probably always will be.
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:4-5
User avatar
Catspaw
Care Bear Admin
Care Bear Admin
Posts: 30428
Joined: April 2005
Location: Canada
Gender:

Post by Catspaw »

I still like to hand out Valentines to friends and family members sometimes. I bought nice glittery cards for my little nieces this year, plus a few books and stuff like that. I don't celebrate Valentine's Day in a "romantic date" kind of way (due to the lack of handsome volunteers to be my romantic date) ;) but I do like to buy cinnamon hearts and Valentine cards just for fun.

I noticed Purdys Chocolates (which is delicious, by the way) is advertising anti-Valentine's day chocolate products in addition to the traditional boxes, which I thought was kind of fun. One option:
https://www.purdys.com/nope-mini-favourites-6-pc
Image
User avatar
ByeByeBrownie
I've been here a bit
Posts: 165
Joined: February 2020
Contact:

Post by ByeByeBrownie »

My mom has always done an amazing job at making Valentine's Day special for each of us kids. She still makes cards for us with the most beautiful personalized litters inside and always gives us flowers and a little bag of chocolate. It's also a family tradition that we always have heart-shaped pizza for dinner on Valentine's Day.

A couple years ago one of my gal pals and I got all dressed up and went to dinner at a fancy restaurant, and that was fun too.

I know a lot of single people like to be humbugs about Valentine's Day, but I enjoy any chance I get to celebrate something that makes people happy, even if it doesn't pertain particularly to me.
Image
Brownie has a knack
for writing superb haikus
she cannot be stopped
~Pengwin
User avatar
Patterson
Tallying up
Posts: 138
Joined: April 2020
Location: Gnarnia, with a G for copyright reasons

Post by Patterson »

ByeByeBrownie wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:24 am I know a lot of single people like to be humbugs about Valentine's Day, but I enjoy any chance I get to celebrate something that makes people happy, even if it doesn't pertain particularly to me.
I'm a humbug about it myself, but the real reason is because public displays of affection make me uncomfortable. If people are being particularly mushy about it, I like to bring up The St Valentine's Day massacre of 1349. Hopefully it kills the mood enough to where I don't have to watch people loudly kissing while I'm trying to enjoy a piece of chocolate. (yes, I'm a terrible person sometimes.)

It's a holiday that I really don't think should be a holiday. It's like those internet holidays like Platypus Day (apparently the first Saturday of March for anyone wondering). I get it, St Valentine died for the right cause, marriage is extremely important, but I feel like what Bart Rathbone said is more applicable to the holiday as it's being celebrated, "Greedy storekeepers invented it to make an extra buck between Christmas and Easter."

Christmas and Easter, (at least if you celebrate them acknowledging the importance of Christ's birth and resurrection) are important holidays because ultimately the glory is going to God for his incredible love. Same thing with Independence Day (or similar holidays for other countries) if what you're celebrating what God did, allowing the founding of your country. I sadly doubt very many Christians use Valentines day as an opportunity to give thanks to God for their marriage. I'm not trying to be a jealous wet blanket, just pointing out that it's kinda a pointless holiday in my mind.

Our family's only tradition (besides me saying "EWW, Gross!" when mom and dad are all mushy) is eating the candy dad brings home from work. He's an elementary school teacher so the kids give him a bunch of candy. One time when I was a kid, instead of giving the candy to all of us, he put the valentines candy with the candy kids could earn doing a church program called bible quizzing. It was a bummer in the moment, but it meant that us bible quizzers could enjoy the incredible tasting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lollipops for years to come. :D
"Patterson! You're alive!" "No, I'm not Patterson. I'm his uh... brother, uh... Shmatterson!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image
User avatar
Laura Ingalls
Half Pint
Half Pint
Posts: 11491
Joined: April 2005
Location: Suburbia

Post by Laura Ingalls »

I love to celebrate holidays in general, and Valentine's Day is no exception! Growing up, my Mom would give us each Valentines and something small like pencils, stickers, and some candy...as I got older, my Dad started getting me a tiny little pot of roses. I would make Valentines for all my siblings, and we'd do some red/heart shaped foods for supper. \:D/

Now that I'm married, I love celebrating with my husband, and most certainly DO thank God for him and for the gift that marriage is to us.
I also have continued my mom's tradition, and I get Valentine gifts for my kids, decorate a little bit, and make themed foods. :D
Haven't started decorating yet, but probably will put out what I have in another week or so.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
User avatar
Bob
Catspaw Rocks!
Posts: 705
Joined: September 2006
Location: The Metroplex
Gender:
Contact:

Post by Bob »

I admit being slightly bummed about Valentine's Day these years, because I'm single, and have always been single with no danger or risk of that changing, and it is entirely plausible I will remain so for the rest of my life. A holiday about couples seems harder to celebrate when you're not directly a part of it. I can be a very sentimental person when I'm given the chance*, and with all of the things I like to brood over already, it's probably easier for me emotionally to forget that the holiday exists than to think about it too deeply.

That isn't hard to do, though, because my father's birthday happens to be the same day as Valentine's Day. The national holiday tends to be overridden by the specificity of our local holiday. ;)

* I'm the kind of person who can be both upset and relieved by Mark 12:25 - on the one hand, because it seems on the surface that a special relationship is diminished (if you had one), but on the other hand, you have a guarantee that you won't spend eternity shut out of the existence of so many people you care about.
User avatar
Steve
No way I broke the window
Posts: 3341
Joined: October 2010
Location: IA
Contact:

Post by Steve »

my wife and i like to celebrate valentine's by forgetting it's coming up until february 13th, then texting each other "oh shoot. valentine's day is tomorrow. what are we doing for it?" and then i order her flowers and pray real hard that there are still delivery slots available. then we usually order takeout and watch a movie. we have a kid who can actually do stuff now, though, so we'll probably get him some candy or something and he'll probably wake up 6 times while we're trying to eat our takeout and watch a movie.
Image
he/him | a little stinker.
User avatar
Kaida
Whale you be my friend?
Posts: 624
Joined: August 2012
Location: the Neverland

Post by Kaida »

I'm a teacher and I love decorating my classroom so Valentine decorations are already up. They're always stuff the kids make. It looks awesome.
During Valentine's I tell all my friends that they are my Valentine and that I'm expecting chocolates and flowers as a joke. I have one friend who sends me a picture of flowers and chocolates haha.

This year I'm making them Valentine videos. I'm pretty excited about them :D
Image
I like chocolate milk. - Cheese
#ForeverKitty
User avatar
KnittingFun14
Processing
Posts: 109
Joined: April 2020
Location: Kentucky
Gender:

Post by KnittingFun14 »

I'm homeschooled, and we never did the 'exchange valentines at school' thing, but when I was younger I remember my dad getting me this little stuffed puppy for valentines day and I was thrilled! :D
When I actually think ahead I try to write some valentine cards for my friends, but I'm not usually that on top of things :anxious:
We don't normally do anything for it though, and it's just any other regular day of the week.
Image
I normally go by N on the chat, but it's actually short for...
"No, John, I can't marry you. Why? Because my father won't let me. He says you're not good enough for me, John.
Yes you have big muscles and know how to run a farm, but I need a man that can give me the moon.
You are not the sun. I am." -Pengwin
User avatar
The Top Crusader
Hammer Bro
Hammer Bro
Posts: 22629
Joined: April 2005
Location: A drawbridge over a lava pit with an axe conveniently off to the side

Post by The Top Crusader »

I remember having Super Mario Valentines to hand out at some point in elementary school and it was pretty rad.
User avatar
Bren
Be positive!
Posts: 6046
Joined: March 2008
Location: Behind the cash register
Gender:
Contact:

Post by Bren »

KnittingFun14 wrote: Wed Feb 02, 2022 9:01 pm I'm homeschooled, and we never did the 'exchange valentines at school' thing, but when I was younger I remember my dad getting me this little stuffed puppy for valentines day and I was thrilled! :D
When I actually think ahead I try to write some valentine cards for my friends, but I'm not usually that on top of things :anxious:
We don't normally do anything for it though, and it's just any other regular day of the week.
That's so special about the puppy. Any chance you still have it?
ImageImageImage
logos linked
User avatar
KnittingFun14
Processing
Posts: 109
Joined: April 2020
Location: Kentucky
Gender:

Post by KnittingFun14 »

Bren wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:16 pm
KnittingFun14 wrote: Wed Feb 02, 2022 9:01 pm I'm homeschooled, and we never did the 'exchange valentines at school' thing, but when I was younger I remember my dad getting me this little stuffed puppy for valentines day and I was thrilled! :D
When I actually think ahead I try to write some valentine cards for my friends, but I'm not usually that on top of things :anxious:
We don't normally do anything for it though, and it's just any other regular day of the week.
That's so special about the puppy. Any chance you still have it?
I believe I do, yes. Well worn but still intact :D
Image
I normally go by N on the chat, but it's actually short for...
"No, John, I can't marry you. Why? Because my father won't let me. He says you're not good enough for me, John.
Yes you have big muscles and know how to run a farm, but I need a man that can give me the moon.
You are not the sun. I am." -Pengwin
Post Reply