February 10, 2022
Valentine’s Day: (Un)senseful holiday?
by Lena Severin
You can think what you like about it, but just like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve, it comes every year on February 14th: Valentine's Day. Hardly any other holiday is viewed as critically as the "day of love". A grey cloud of cynicism hangs over some, which grows a little bigger with every greeting card and every candy-floss-sweet commercial. Others have been walking around in the weeks before in a pink-foggy mood, on their way to the peak day of romance. And then there is the liberal grey area, who don't really care about anything, but who secretly ask themselves the question "Does all this 'celebration' even make sense?"
Don't worry, this isn't going to be a "X reasons why Valentine's Day sucks" article. Nor is it going to be a written version of a "Witness to Valentine's Day" conversion. Because I am one of those people who find themselves in the wonderful gray area and have made it my mission to bring the two groups of opinions a little closer together in this article. Will you accept the challenge?
Valentine’s Day – feelings of happiness for some, flood of triggers for others
In general, I have to say that I find the concept of celebrating love on a single day of the year really strange. I know I'm not the first person to use this phrase, but shouldn't we celebrate love every day of the year? And that regardless of who it's aimed at? Partners, friends, children, family, the gym crew or - most importantly - yourself...?
I don't want to celebrate self-love too much in this article, because despite the importance of the message, the constant self-love bombardment from all the "single-inclusive" ads and texts can be quite annoying, especially at this time of year. In fact, there are far too many people for whom the gauntlet through the suddenly love-crazy consumer world begins at the end of January. You really start to wonder whether you are the only person in the world who doesn't spend this day snuggled up on the couch or exchanging romantic glances with your own glass of red wine instead of with a second pair of eyes. I feel you! Bad thoughts then creep into my head... If Valentine's Day is a "celebration" day for couples, is Single's Day in November the consolation prize for everyone else? For someone whose relationship completely imploded on Single's Day, with crowning irony, and who is now stumbling along the path to Valentine's Day alone, that is not exactly a comforting effect. For many single people, the level of satisfaction with the situation simply still needs to be improved - to put it diplomatically. All the days that are devoted to this, regardless of relationship status, are just rubbing salt in the wound.
The point is (and most people will know it): February is a breeding ground for break-up pain and heartache. So let's be lenient with each other, regardless of whether we are currently happy in a relationship or enjoying all the benefits of being alone. Because we, who are struggling a little more than we already do, don't need couple shows and self-love prophets. We just want to think everything sucks for a while. And that's perfectly fine.
Valentine’s Day – gifts, chocolate and candlelight
I want to be completely honest with you. This article was not as easy-going as it (hopefully) reads. To be honest, it was quite a pain in my ass. I have often asked myself what you, as a reader, are supposed to get out of devoting a few minutes of your day to my words. I just don't have any special feelings for Valentine's Day, and I think the whole thing is perhaps a bit over the top. That's why I won't give you any tips for activities, gifts and surprise plans - there are enough other blog posts on the internet for that. But what I can and want to give you is a feeling that the day is not about finding it beautiful or unnecessary. In the end, that's what we all have in common: the need for closeness. For me, a day like Valentine's Day serves as a little reminder at the beginning of the year not to lose sight of something very essential: taking time for yourself and for the people you love.
I don't know how you feel, whether you're in a relationship, happily single, or just recently separated, but I'm getting the feeling that the beginning of this year was marked by a slightly depressed, stressful mood. We are in the third year of Corona, we are tired of the restrictions on life, but at the same time the omicron wave is very reminiscent of the lockdown mood of a year ago. Can a day that celebrates love perhaps take on a new meaning in this context? Can it remind us to calm down and create beautiful moments, even during not so beautiful times? I think that's exactly the message we all need to hear more and more at the beginning of this year.
That's why I would like to recommend that you make your day really nice! Or if it can't be that day, then take the time on another day, but take it yourself. Treat yourself to some chocolate, a really nice candlelight dinner with relaxing music, go to your favorite sport, buy that shirt, necklace or whatever you've been eyeing for a while. Maybe you'll treat your skin and soul to a break with a little JUNGLÜCK pampering . No matter what your relationship status is currently, do something for yourself - alone, with your partner, friends, family, kids, gym buddies or the bowling club. Do what's good for you and use this Valentine's Day as a reminder to stick with yourself.
Valentine’s Day this year: time to get closer
To be honest, I think this headline is wonderful, because no matter who you are, you understand it in your own way. “Time to get closer”. That can mean focusing on yourself, giving yourself love. Or meeting a special person in your life, giving yourself more closeness and, above all, attention. Or showing gratitude to a group of people you like to surround yourself with.
If we don't see Valentine's Day as a questionable holiday, but as a reminder to slow down, take a deep breath, give and receive some balm for the soul, then the day will have a completely new meaning. Maybe not only February 14th can become Valentine's Day, but also March 14th, April, May, June and so on. Let's make sure that we don't sink into the hustle and bustle of everyday life, work and obligations, but instead conjure up little special moments and experiences. Are you in?