Studio 360

While I might agree that st. valentine's day excludes some portion of the population, I am surprised that she can't think of another holiday that does this. is she out of the country for the rest of the holiday rotation. christmas; for the rich or the deeply traditional christians. thanksgiving; for those few people with large and largely not dysfunctional families. labor day, memorial day, 4th of july all exclude big chunks of populace as do the rest I'm forgetting here...or maybe only me. I'll let you ponder this and be the judge.

Seriously, girlfriend!

Next September, when the Christamas decorations go up, the carols on Muzak begin, and everyone starts screaming about the "War On Christmas", ask a Jew, Hindu, or atheist how it feels.

This is a four-month opportunity to make those that don't celebrate Christmas feel snubbed, left out, and "other."

Try a social experiment...suggest in mixed company that you don't think its right for the town hall or public court or school to display a Nativity scene, and you will find the "holiday that makes a large chunk of people feel bad" besides Valentine's Day.

It is a Hallmark holiday which is not taken seriously by most people over the age of 20, and easily ignored.

I almost can't believe I heard those words uttered.

Hi Linda --

To your point about the 4-month-long Christmas... we actually asked a firm to redesign that holiday a couple years ago. In case you'd like to listen to that:

http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2006/12/22/segments/70703

Thanks for writing in,

Jenny

Every holiday leaves someone out. That's how the tradition gets started for pete's sake. It's a ritual somewhere in the world.

I agree with Alissa that Valentine's Day seems to leave out a larger segment of population than most any other "major holiday." (e.g., More single people than Jews + Atheists combined.)

But is a SUPER LAME holiday nonetheless. We definitely need to go back to the brief on this one.

Can't wait to see the work! :-)

I'm sooooo relieved to hear that I'm not the only one who hates Valentine's Day whether I'm single or in a relationship.

One crazy year, for example, I organized a "Take Back The Night" Valentines Dinner for some single girlfriends. That same day, a man in my complex who was interested in me, kept insisting that I stop by his place on the way home. I had misgivings. When I arrived, he had a large Bouquet of flowers, chocolate and a piece of expensive looking jewelry for me. I told him that I couldn't accept them as I didn't know how I felt about him. It was very uncomfortable and very eery as it was completely disproportionate to how well I knew him.

My favorite holiday is Saint Patrick's Day. You can celebrate it or not without any social repercussions and if you choose to celebrate it, just throw corned beef, cabbage and carrots in a large pot, boil and serve with beer. And, if you're lucky, like me, you have friends who know and love to sing Irish Ballads. Good people to invite over to enjoy the celebration.

You are right that Valentine's Day is a way for florists and restaurants rack up big bucks.

What do widows, young singles, and same sex loving people do. The idea of a day of love is nice, but maybe we can globalize it and make it a day of no warfare. Or use it for love of our planet. In these economic hard times should we be spending fifty dollars for a dozen roses, and hundreds for a pre fixe dinner for two. Is this money well spent for a day of love? I do not think so.