I won't be manipulated!

[JayIsh]

I read recently where Valentines Day has one of the highest number of reported domestic disturbances as compared to any other day of the year...And it was from a pretty reliable periodical!!!

Love is in the air...along with pots, pans, glasses and china...

 

[MrsH]

I LOVE to go to the store on Valentine's Day around 5pm to watch the guys shop for a last minute present. They also do the same thing with Mother's Day.

jeff, my dearest darling, if all the boys were as groovy as you and told their sweeties regularly, how they felt, then v-day would have never become the commercial lallapalooza that it has become. however, 99.99% of the boys i know, suck at expressing loving sentiment (tho of course, NONE of the members here are included) and need a day where they are pressured into acting romantic!!


xo

 

[Jeff Westover]

Elfie! so nice to see you posting again...

I suppose you might have a point. BUT, I also support this old adage --

There isn't one man in a hundred who knows how to treat a woman. (And there isn't one woman in 999 who knows when she is well treated).

And, as an active marketer of Valentine's Day I can most assuredly tell you that all those men you see clamoring for the right way to express their feelings aren't doing it because they want to -- they are doing it because the have to.

Poor dumb schleps.

jeff, my dearest darling, if all the boys were as groovy as you and told their sweeties regularly, how they felt, then v-day would have never become the commercial lallapalooza that it has become. however, 99.99% of the boys i know, suck at expressing loving sentiment (tho of course, NONE of the members here are included) and need a day where they are pressured into acting romantic!!


xo

 

[Maureen]

My OH is a self-proclaimed bah humbug as far as Valentine's Day is concerned. "It's just another holiday generated by card/confectionery companies to part fools from their money" So no, Valentine's Day is NOT recognised in this house.

That said, I would rather have what I've got - ie someone that runs a bath for me if he thinks I'm stressed out, someone that cooks dinner if he's home first and someone that picks me up something "because he thought I'd like it" all year round than a dozen roses and 10lbs of candy on one particular day in February.

 

[dvdelf]

"happy valentines day, I got you something special because over commercialization said i should. not because i love you"

 

[MrsH]

Maureen, I agree with you. These are the little things that my hubby does to let me know he loves me. I just like to tease him about flowers and candy. I would rather know that my hubby is coming home to me instead of carousing than get a forced gift. I love my hubbster....

My OH is a self-proclaimed bah humbug as far as Valentine's Day is concerned. "It's just another holiday generated by card/confectionery companies to part fools from their money" So no, Valentine's Day is NOT recognised in this house.

That said, I would rather have what I've got - ie someone that runs a bath for me if he thinks I'm stressed out, someone that cooks dinner if he's home first and someone that picks me up something "because he thought I'd like it" all year round than a dozen roses and 10lbs of candy on one particular day in February.

 

[Cedarfarm]

Oh I agree with all of you! But try being married to an absent-minded professor!!!...these "Hallmark Holidays" can only help a marriage out!!! I say, anytime a so-called holiday is about LOVE, that is a GOOD thing. I love it when I get anything...I never expect it...if it happens...that's cool with me. I realize he has trouble with holidays, I know he loves me in other ways.

:

 

[novelist]

:dance:I LOVE Valentine's Day. It gives my husband and I a perfect opportunity to do something special for one another. We always buy eachother a card and a gift. Last year we also brought food home so i didn't have to cook. I'm not sure what we're doing this year, but I can't wait!

 

[Maureen]

Playing Devil's Advocate, why wait specifically until February 14th?? Why not do it a week on Thursday or August 25th??? Or both???

Just wondering!!!

 

[joyful]

I like Valentine's Day. Couples should celebrate every day with each other and make it special but sadly some don't and I feel it does serve a purpose that might encourage couples to be more romantic.
Hubby use to send me flowers but after losing his job of 24 years, we don't like to spend that kind of money but he's so good to me all year I don't care. As long as he comes home to me and makes me feel secure, I'm a contented lady.

 

[Head Elf]

Actually it looks as if there were 3 St. Valentines during history. Even though no one is quite sure where he came form or which one he was is still a mystery. Legend has it that he fell in love with his Jailers daughter and cured her blindness. Another legend says he sent a note saying "from your Valentine". There is also a belief in early Europe that during the Middle Ages birds chose their partners in the middle of February making this day dedicated to love. People observed this day by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their paramours or lovers. Another legend has it that the Duke of Orleans sent the first Valentine to his wife in 1415 while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
So, who is this Valentinus? The name Valentinus was a popular name back in the day and it means Worthy.
The creation of the feast might have been conceived to supersede the pagan holiday Lupercalia. Until 1969 the Catholic church recognized a total of 10-11 Valentine's Days. These include Jan 7, May 2, July 16, Aug 31, Sep 2, Oct 25, Nov 1/3, Nov 11, Nov 13, and Dec 16. This saints feast was celebrated
on February 14th by the Catholic Church. In 1969 the Roman Catholics revised their calendar and he was then taken off.

 

[Head Elf]

excerpt 2. and yes the 19th century did find its way as a commercialized holiday in the US.

And no my husband does not fall for the commercialization of when to tell me he loves me or how to show that he loves me. Why buy flowers when they in turn wilt and die. Now that's a vision of Love. Chocolate so we women can look in the mirror and ask the dumb question (after we have eaten all the candy bought with love) does this make me look fat. DUH! It's the little things done throughout the year that make us fall back in love with our partners. What better way for a little girl who has a crush on the boy in class and he doesn't give her a Valentine. A heart crushed. Let's wait til next year, he'll give me one then. Ask Charlie Brown about the little red-haired girl.
I give my hubby cards throughout the year not just at Valentines day. I do give to Charity on that day. I jump in the lake for Special Olympics with about 100 other crazy people.

 

[sugarplum fairy]

This year I love Valentine's Day. My daughter is getting married in October. Her colors are red and white, and her flowers are roses and calla lilies. Needless to say, I am buying a lot of things right now for her wedding. I can't wait until the after Valentine's Day sales to see what I can get.

 

[Sunshine73]

Eh, Valentine's Day isn't all bad. My Dh and I do love one another and we do nice, thoughtful things for one another on a daily basis (okay, me more than him but that's because he's a guy) so it's not that we *need* a day to be romantic.

However, in our busy lives with our hectic schedules, we sometimes find that we haven't taken time to celebrate "us". Valentine's Day gives us that opportunity. So, while my DH may or may not buy me flowers (no biggie either way), I will probably buy him a bucket of stuff (a metal bucket filled with his favorite snacks and goodies) and we will go out for a nice dinner and a movie to really take time out and acknowledge what we sometimes take for granted in our crazy, hectic lives.

 

[Head Elf]

Because my hubby has never had anyone fawn over him, I try to make him feel special or more special on Valentine's Day. I can't help it, the I love you's everyday are wonderful, but sometimes they are just words. And sometimes I can't just say those words because they don't seem to express what I really want to say and I have no idea how to say what I really mean. So, that being said, I'll buy a card that someone else wrote and just give it to him and be done with it. He use to get flowers from me, but at that time of the year I can't see why to double the cost of flowers.

 

[Maebeary]

We choose not to celebrate Valentine's Day...except with saying "Happy Valentine's Day." It's worked for both of us....no forgetting...no stress. Actually, I prefer the simple little things...like filling up my gas tank without telling me. That means more than buying me anything for a "commercial" day.

 

[JOHNOR]

i really like the day, my boyfriend is a big man, 6'3 and very broad and muscly, from the outside in you wouldn't think he was the romantic type but he really makes an effort on valentines day, he cooks for me (which is a miracle in itself) buys me my favourite wine and just spends some nice time with me, i know people may think he should do that occassionally anyway to let me know he cares and maybe he should, but he let's me know in a million other ways. i just like how he gives in to commercialism and spoils me for the day!

 

[Annette]

I read recently where Valentines Day has one of the highest number of reported domestic disturbances as compared to any other day of the year...And it was from a pretty reliable periodical!!!

Love is in the air...along with pots, pans, glasses and china...

Hmmm never heard that but I have heard the same thing for Superbowl Sunday.

 

[mammaduke]

Hmmm never heard that but I have heard the same thing for Superbowl Sunday.

Those 2 days they say are when most domestic crimes happen. Especially super bowl Sunday with everyone drinking & wives feeling like they aren't getting any attention.
Here on Super bowl Sunday they have ladies night at a local club with male strippers for the woman who don't want to watch the game.

 

[dvdelf]

eeek