WHY I HATE FEBRUARY

I believe it has something (or everything) to do with being overcrowded by hideous montages of pink, red, and white trinkets of no value, of candy repackaged in said colors, redesigned for the "special" occasion, and disturbingly decorated lingerie--the stuff with fake feathers, bows, and hearts all interwoven and printed everywhere.

I do, kind of hate Valentine's day on principal. Why did we need to create a holiday that allows people to get by with neglecting sharing their feelings the rest of the year? One that encourages people to give meaningless gifts, cliched flowers, and chocolate by the pound.

How is this a holiday and what are we celebrating? It's the same as every other Americanized holiday: all the same things are being sold, but this time they are slathered with red, white, and pink--all at once.

I wonder if we're supposed to be celebrating love. Is that what all of this means? If by love, you mean giving gifts to offset this mindset, "I know I've been an ass for the 364 days of this past year, so here's something pretty that might inspire you to live with me for yet another long, ordinary year."

The food industry also makes a killing off of holidays, especially this one, where the guys are supposed to be responsible for being all romantic and creating "The Mood." Restaurants get to charge astronomical prices for the same dishes, dressed up in colorful sauces, paired with expensive wines and desserts. It's a pretty good set up. They get credit for the idea of going out. Girls don't have to cook or clean up. Neither do the guys.

Is it possible that this day is more of an Ameriholidays than any other?

It guilts people into giving, into believing pretenses, into thinking that love is some how equated with, even measured by, gifts, romantic notions, and sweets.

Perhaps those who have found their soul mate have a different perspective. Perhaps they like this day because it provides a forum for mutual appreciation, for expressing things that often get buried in the day-to-day jumble of work, family, and leisure. Maybe one day my mind will change. Until then, this is the humble cultural observation of a single 2o-something.