Around the world, Valentine’s Day is acknowledged as an celebration of romance and romantic love. But the day is not just about love; it is also celebrated as a significant shopping holiday, which allows businesses to make up for lost sales.
Many people here think that the day’s commercialization has obscured the element of love, which is meant to be its primary focus. Others disagree, claiming that it is the most romantic day of the year and should not be perceived as being as expensive as portrayed.
According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Valentine’s Day in the last year hit the second-highest level in the holiday’s history, totaling $23.9 billion. NRF data shows that consumer expenditure on Valentine’s Day gifts peaked in 2020 at $27.4 billion. It is anticipated that spending would be comparable to last year’s level during the holiday celebration on February 14, 2023.
Therefore, if you’re feeling under pressure to buy your significant other the ideal Valentine’s Day present, it’s probably because capitalism deliberately made the event commercial.
Charles Lindholm, a retired Boston University professor and expert in both American culture and romantic love, believes that commercialization and consumerism can negatively affect relationships.
According to Lindholm, people may anticipate expensive gifts for Valentine’s Day due to the accompanying consumerism. If a partner’s expectations aren’t satisfied, it could strain the relationship. Businesses take advantage of clients’ worries about disappointing their significant others and persuade them to choose gifts with a higher price tag.
Lindholm also notes that people sometimes feel under pressure from society to enjoy the ideal Valentine’s Day. People may be tempted to participate in if they scroll past Instagram images of couples having lavish dates and receiving pricey gifts in order to show their followers that their Valentine’s Day was superior to their friends’.
Valentine’s day should not be a day for corporations to fill their pockets. Instead, it should be a day to express togetherness and true love.
Also see: Best Valentine’s day movies to stream
