It's that one day in February again when cupid gets praised or bashed. Love it or hate it, you simply cant get past February without going through Valentine's Day.
I am on the hate side. It is not only because I am single. Even when I was still seeing someone in my delusional past, I thought Valentine's Day is rather cheesy. And while I was working in the corporate world, Valentine's is an important annual marketing event in the retail calendar. To me it was work. If you feel that Valentine's is just another lame excuse retailers use to ring the cash registers, you are in good company. It is what it is: a very commercialized hallmark card holiday, shamelessly used to lure people into believing that love can be measured in terms of cards, flowers, chocolates, dinner dates, concerts and other such commodities.
But lo and behold, Valentine's is no longer just sweet, mushy and corny. There is a growing Anti-Valentine movement that celebrates singlehood, bitterness and the mockery that Valentine's is. At the outset, this anti-valentine spirit can be dismissed as mere sourgraping rants by loveless individuals, but if you dig deeper, you will see the genius and cynical humor behind it.
Allow me now to share here some gold finds in the anti-valentine movement. I think these are brilliant. But this is just my opinion. My college friend, Macky, told me that I have a sick humor. Maybe you'll find it witty (in the acerbic way), maybe you'll find it abrasive. You be the judge.
F.A.D. Forced Affection Day. The is the best description for Valentine's for those who are compelled to profess their love out of obligation or fear. Most likely, it is fear. A husband or a boyfriend knows only too well that "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". Photo courtesy of cafepress.com
Do you need an outlet where you can vent your rage against the bastard of an ex that you have? This Ex-Knife Holder is perfect for you. Photo courtesy of thinkgeek.com
Want to tell your Ex that you are destined for each other? Tell him/her in this brutally frank way. Photo courtesy of despair.com
Of course, Cupid, the winged menace, is not out of the woods. He has gotten a severe beating for shooting when he shouldn't have, and for not shooting when he should. Morevoer, he is highly ridiculed for his poor aim. Photos courtesy of etsy.com, zwani.com
There are more cards, novelty items, souvenirs and other consumer items that scoff at love in the web. Anti Valentine has gone the commercial route too. I guess you just have to fight fire with fire. What I pasted here is just proof that singles, unattached and scorned lovers can have their own field day (of revenge, mockery and sick humor) on Valentine's as well.
As for me, the only good thing about Valentine's is the abundance of chocolates during this time of the year. And any excuse to indulge in chocolates is fine by me. So yes, I don't hate Valentine's day that much after all. I will sell out to the other side for a mere box of chocolates.
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