The Beatles said that “You Can’t Buy Me Love” . . . But, at this time of year, heaven help the poor boy that doesn’t try.
Whilst most girls would claim to aspire to the ‘love is all you need’ notion that Hollywood is so eager to champion, the boy that neglects Valentine’s Day should probably have watched the Agent Provocateur ad beforehand. Quite how anyone could forget the 14th, with more adverts for it than the Guild Elections, I don’t know, but the question of why anyone would want to forget is far easier to understand…
Firstly, there’s something about the 14th that is more than a little discriminatory. I mean, can you imagine if birthdays were only celebrated if you had a boyfriend? Or what if Father Christmas only gave presents to couples? There would be letters of complaint to the North Pole and someone would definitely have tried to sue Santa. On the 14th of February, however, for some reason such things are acceptable. If you’re single, you might as well be Bridget Jones in her Celine Dion solo and if you’re a “table for two,” then why celebrate a day where flowers are twice as expensive, tables are twice as hard to come-by and the guy is only there for what you’ll be giving him later?
No matter what “grand gestures” your other half may have planned this year, in reality, he is doing nothing more than conforming to shop windows. Most of us may recognise this sugar-coated con, yet, for some reason, we all succumb. The girls dream of roses, Rigby and Peller and Thornton’s Special Toffee, whilst men just hope to escape the day unscathed. The shops have been exploiting the love since last Easter, whilst the romantic sentiment of Harry’s and a TP chocolate fountain flitters around Exeter like Cupid on E.
When it comes down to it, Valentine’s Day promotes superficialities, not affection. It’s just a day where we measure love in card and confectionary and allow “Mr Alright” to hide behind a safety curtain of petrol-station flowers.
Love is for life, not just for Christmas Valentine’s Day.
(Dear Boyfriend, if you’re reading this, please still buy me flowers. X)