Valentines Day

Walk into any super market once February hits and you will be overwhelmed by pink and red balloons, over priced flowers, mediocre chocolate, and cheesy cards. All of these items fit the stereotypical conventions of valentines day. People are expected to buy pricey gifts that last their loved ones less than a week, just to show them how much they love them. Steak houses are all reserved weeks in advance and couples plan their day like they would an anniversary or birthday. The commercialism has expanded to even targeting friend groups. Now the expectation is to also get thoughtless gifts for your friends and celebrate your perpetually single ways together.

A great example of this day that people take so seriously is the movie "Valentines Day" which exposes the traditions of the holiday from all perspectives. It shows the effort loved ones, friends, and secret admirers go through to fulfill the expectations of the day. They buy outrageous gifts and make big plans just like the conventions of the day say you should. The movie also glamorizes the day in unconventional ways such as when all the single friends go out in all black to celebrate their anti-valentines day. This is showing the non-conventional expectations by having the characters wear no pink or red and they don't buy flowers and chocolates. This movie expands the idea of valentines day to reach both the people who accept the expectations and those who are against the set up.