Mush ado about We-Day

Is Valentine’s Day losing its charm? Well, it sure does seem like it. When compared to a time when February 14 bought along a whole lot of red in the form of balloons, flowers and heart-shaped goodies, it’s slowly turned into a damp squib. Earlier youngsters would hunt for a date on this special day or singles would crib at being alone! Not any more. Millennials today don’t want to celebrate the day with all that mush. In fact, they choose not to celebrate it at all. They would much rather spend that time with close friends and family, if at all.

A study done earlier by eHarmony, a UK-based dating site affirms to this pattern, and even found that 24 percent lesser people celebrated this day of love. It is now more about commercialising than making a loved one feel special.

So what are youngsters in the city planning for Valentine’s Day? We chronicle the change in patterns, and how Val Day is no longer relevant.

Mahima Bijlani, an intern chef at JW Marriott, has been in a relationship for over three years with a childhood friend and says Valentine’s Day is a complete no-no for the couple. “I have known my partner for a very long time and we don’t see the need for a special day to acknowledge how much we love each other.

Moreover, Valentine’s Day is all about expensive gifts and fancy meals that get shown off on social media sites. I see no meaning in it. I’m an old school person; if I want to make my partner feel special, I would probably cook for him and spend some quality time with him instead of burning a hole in my pocket for an Instagram post. It’s only restaurateurs and people who own shops that sell Valentine goodies that benefit from it.”  And for some, the meaning of Valentine’s Day has changed completely over time. Nishitha Rachel, a BA graduate from St Joseph’s College says, “As a kid, Valentine’s Day, to me, meant a day when my mum would buy my sister and I chocolates that we loved. Now, that I am in a relationship, it hasn’t changed much. My partner and I don’t do anything extraordinary, it’s just another day. But when I look around, my aunts, uncles and other relatives have a different way of celebrating it. They write letters to each other, or prepare a special meal and recall memories from their younger days; I feel like the magic has lasted. It’s very cute when compared to Valentine’s Day celebration where you are just spending a lot on things you probably don’t need.”

But what about those who still cling on to the tradition of celebrating the special day?

Ricardo Lawrence, a coach at Technico Football Foundation, plans on spending the day with his long-term girlfriend and pamper her with a gift and dinner. “Both of us started working recently and find that we hardly have any time for each other. A special day to celebrate our relationship gives us a cause to make time from our busy schedules to spend time with each other. And it is an occasion that is reserved just for us. Unlike Christmas, which she shares with family and me, or her birthday where she is expected to be with her friends as well. It’s special, it’s just for us.”

Yet, has the notion that having a date on Valentine’s Day changed over time? Rahul Gabriel Roy, an MA student, happily single, certainly believes so. He says, “The day has lost its meaning and charm over a period of time. Today, it’s all about expensive gifts and dates and not making the partner feel loved. As a single person, I am getting a couple of my other single friends together to celebrate the occasion. I don’t think the day is reserved only for couples. Just like any other festival, this day too should be cherished and celebrated by all.”