Valentine’s Day is celebrated by millions globally, but it can be a depressing holiday for single people, widowers and couples affected by the cost of living crisis.
For those who are single, Valentine’s Day can heartlessly hammer home their current relationship status. Seeing couples celebrate their love together, can be a cruel reminder of their loneliness. The holiday is often bombarded with images of happy couples and hearts, which can often make the feeling of isolation even worse.
With an estimated 9 million in the UK feeling lonely ‘always’ or ‘often’, it is easy to understand why many people would find Valentine’s Day difficult.
Valentine’s Day can be painful for the estimated 3 million widowers in the UK, especially for those who may have recently lost a loved one. The day can trigger memories of their lost love and can leave them feeling even more bereaved. This can make it difficult for those to go through the holiday and witness many of the festivities.
For those in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can also be a pressuring and stressful occasion. Often, couples can feel overwhelmed at buying the perfect gift or planning an enjoyable event for their partner. With Britons spending upwards of £100 on gifts, it can be a financial strain on couples during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
There comes the matter of the exact purpose of Valentine’s Day. Why does a couple’s love have to be celebrated and condensed into one day of the year? Why can’t couples celebrate their love all year round? Commercialisation seems to be the answer to these questions. A jaw-dropping £1.37 billion was spent on Valentine’s Day 2022, so we can see who benefits the most from Valentine’s Day: the economy.
Valentine’s Day can be exclusionary and emotionally hurtful for many people in the UK, triggering unhappy memories and emphasising relationship status for the lonely or single. The day’s over-commercialisation and financial pressure can also impact those in relationships.
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