Call me an unromantic old cynic, but isn’t St Valentine’s Day just another occasion promoted by greetings card companies and florists to swell their own coffers? Isn’t it strange that the price of roses suddenly peaks on February 14th?
Okay, I bought the wife a card and a very nice tasteful gift. But while I was in the card shop looking through the selection of over-priced printed cardboard I noticed cards that sons could send to their mums and cards from the family’s dog. Wikipedia describes St Valentine’s Day as “the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other”. So, sending THAT sort of greetings card to your mother, I believe that’s known as Oedipus Syndrome. And receiving one from the dog, quite frankly, that’s just not right.
Mother’s Day is less than a month away (florists, rub your greedy hands with glee). Then Easter… I don’t think we’ve ever been in the habit of sending Easter cards, but greetings card companies would like us to remind our friends of Christ’s resurrection with the words “Happy Easter”. Was it a happy time for Jesus? I don’t think so. Then Father’s Day. If they’re looking to plug a gap in the calendar where people are inconsiderate enough only to celebrate birthdays, I’m sure you’ll find “Happy Summer Solstice” cards in your local shop. And then perhaps “send your friend a piece of printed cardboard” day.
Please remember to recycle, because we’re running out of rainforest.
In the US, this whole day is crazy, people send work colleagues cards, kids send other kids cards, it has nothing to do with Love. It’s all about Hallmark.
Carl is right, you have never seen anything marketed to death until you have seen it done in the good old US of A.
Not only do Hallmark have a TV spot every other commercial break on TV, other companies who have absolutely no right to do anything on Valentines Day get in on the Act. For the slightly insane, there are special Valentines Day Sales on at most Jewelers, and for the completely insane, what better way to express your love than to buy the love of your life a Mercedes, or a BMW, or a Lexus. They can all help you with their special Valentines Day Deals.
So, I hear you ask, what is the lovely Mrs. Adams ( mine , not yours ) going to get as a token of my love this year. A card perhaps, maybe some flowers… possibly. No….. this year Mrs Adams will be getting partial deafness when we go to see Van Halen in Orlando.
See…. romance isn’t dead. And if she plays her cards right, I might even get her a tour T shirt.
You are an old cynic. But spot on!!