What is Valentine’s Day About & How Much Should You Spend?
Valentine’s Day has a long, long history. It began in 496 and has several origin stories. But Valentine’s Day, as we know, has only been around since 1910. A day to show people around us how much we love and appreciate each other. A day for candle lit dinners, bouquets of flowers, chocolate and cheesy valentines day cards. We have put together this blog about what Valentine’s day is about and how you can celebrate with your loved ones.
Overview:
- The history of Valentine’s Day
- Valentine’s Day Facts
- What Valentine’s Day means
- What can I do instead of Valentine’s Day?
- What if you don’t have a partner on Valentine’s day?
The History Of Valentine’s Day
There are many legends on the origin of Valentine’s Day. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
However, another story suggests that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned priest actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl. It is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still used today.
The true birth of Valentine’s Day remains a mystery but isn’t that all a part of the fun?
Valentine’s Day facts
Here are some fun facts about Valentine’s Day:
- Not only is Valentine’s Day not a public holiday in Australia, but it isn’t a public holiday in any other country either.
- In 2020, 9.1 million roses were imported into Australia in the two weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day.
- We have been using romantic notes and cards for Valentine’s Day since the 1700s
- The Penny Post and invention of the postage stamp in the 1840s brought a surge in manufactured Valentine’s Day cards, instead of handmade ones.
- Valentine’s Day is one of the most common days to propose.
What Valentine’s Day means: what it’s really about
If you want to know what Valentine’s Day is about, then look no further. It is not just spending money to show the world (and your partner) that you care. It’s a day to celebrate love and friendship in general. In fact, the idea of Valentine’s Day as a corporate romantic day is fairly modern.
Why is Valentine’s Day important?
Despite the complaints it gets, it can be nice to have a day dedicated to showing your partner you love and appreciate them. The world is a busy place and we can all become a bit inattentive at times. So having a specific date that reminds us to look back on the things we love and appreciate about each other is much appreciated.
Even if you don’t celebrate, you’re likely still aware of when the day occurs. And that awareness (hopefully) reminds you to be grateful for the love in your life—whatever form it comes in.
How to make Valentine’s Day special?
Instead of thinking about the usual gifts, think about what it is your partner would really love. If you’ve ever discussed each other’s love language, then that’s a great place to start thinking about how to make Valentine’s Day special and unique. Maybe doing a surprise deep clean of your house would be the most romantic idea ever to them. Or maybe they just want some quality time together to reconnect. The key to making it special is making it about your special someone and not some generic idea of what you should do.
For more ideas on how to celebrate, see 22 Cheap Romantic Date Ideas that will make an impression.
How much should you spend on Valentine’s Day?
There’s no budget to love. So whether you show it by going full out extravaganza or keep it simple, sleek, and cheap, your partner should love it either way.
How to celebrate Valentine’s Day on a budget
Here’s our number one tip for a cheap Valentine’s Day: celebrate it early or late. Chocolate tends to be cheaper just before and just after the 14th of February. The same goes for other traditional Valentine’s Day goods like roses and cards. Not only is this a great way to save cash but it brings back some of the true sense of Valentine’s Day; celebrating the love you have for someone, not just pumping more cash into the corporate giants.
Relax, take it easy, and enjoy your discount chocolate but full-priced love.
What can I do instead of Valentine’s Day?
Book a holiday (well in advance). The early bird gets the discounted getaway tickets. Check out our blog for some ideas for cheap holiday destinations for couples. You’ll get to escape the competitive pressure put on romantic gestures. And instead, you can focus on what really matters.
What if you don’t have a partner on Valentine’s day?
As Valentine’s Day has been commercialized over time, the stereotypical way to spend Valentine’s day is taking your romantic partner to a candle lit dinner with roses and chocolates awaiting their excitement. This is where the modern day views of the day have it wrong.
Valentine’s day is to show love, friendship and appreciation for those around you. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be celebrated with a romantic partner. Single or not, Valentine’s Day is a perfect excuse to treat yourself and the people around you. Why not take the opportunity to do something that makes you happy?
Instead of the usual humbug, use the day as an excuse to:
Express How You Feel: Even if words aren’t your thing, a love letter, poem or handmade card is the perfect way to express how you feel about someone.
Be Honest: It’s the perfect excuse to come clean about your secret crush.
Stay Anonymous: Or if you’re still too shy, send an anonymous e-card and sign it ‘Your Valentine’.
Make Wishes Come True: What is the one thing yourself or your partner has always wanted to do? Now is the day to make that wish come true.
Pamper Yourselves: You can stay in the honeymoon suite at a five-star hotel, visit a day spa together, shower each other with gifts or have a fancy dinner.
Spend time with friends: Just because you are single or spending Valentine’s day away from your partner doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Get dressed up with friends, have a fancy dinner and go dancing. Or celebrate away from the crowds with fun home activities like cooking and a paint and sip night.
Take A Break: Whisk your partner away on a romantic weekend, or if you’re single, round up your friends and take a road trip.
Valentine’s Day Loan
If you’re wanting to celebrate in style this year or you want to make your getaway as a couple (or a singleton) to avoid the hubbub surrounding the day try checking out our blog on cheap holiday destinations for couples. You can finance your lover’s escape with a secured loan.
