El Dia del Amor y la Amistad
Valentine’s Day for those special and lucky lovebirds is a great holiday. Why shouldn’t it be? No one minds receiving tasty chocolates, fuzzy teddy bears, red roses, and florid love notes from their sweetheart.
But if you’re like me, very single, yesterday’s romantic holiday was hardly a treat. Ever since the fourth grade, watching everyone else give and receive delectable confectionaries has really put a damper on this day. It’s gotten to the point where seeing the telltale signs of red, pink, and white hearts, roses, and fat, naked cupids has, in some cases, made me sick to my stomach.
And it’s not just jealousy and loneliness (on the romantic front) that makes me greatly dislike this holiday. The overkill of mushy, gushy, googley-eyed romantic emotion just seems completely unnecessary!
However, I propose to all singletons out there to celebrate next year’s Valentine’s Day differently. In fact, I propose that instead of calling it “Valentine’s Day” we should call it “El Día del Amor y la Amistad.”
El Día del Amor y la Amistad , celebrated in Mexico, falls on the 14th of February as well. I am no scholar in Mexican culture, so I do not know exactly how it is celebrated.
However, the name, which in English translates as “The Day of Love and Friendship,” suggests to me that Feb. 14 is not just a day to celebrate the love for your significant other, but also a day to celebrate the love you have for your friends.
If you ask me, I think a day celebrating the love between friends is just as important as celebrating romantic love. Besides, I don’t think anyone takes enough time to appreciate how good their friends are. An official holiday would be a perfect time to reflect on and rejoice in how awesome your BFFs (best friends forever) are.
The best part about celebrating El Día del Amor y la Amistad is that everyone will be included! Husbands can still give their wives a bouquet of roses and you’ll still get a red teddy bear from your crush. But you can also plan on giving your friend a box of chocolates just to show how much you love them.
— Andrea Park
Comments
I have always disliked Valentine’s Day as well- even though I haven’t been single the past two or three times. It kind of shallowifies romantic love. I agree that we should concentrate on appreciating friends more too. Here is another reason why Valentine’s Day is not so uber-wonderful: watch or listen to February 14th’s Democracy Now at http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/14/1646210&mode=thread&tid=25 . Amy Goodman does a special report on why the things that bring so much happiness on V-day, flowers, chocolate, and daimonds, at the same time cause so much pain for others. I thought this was a wonderful report because it was very informative and eye-opening about oppression in those three production areas but at the same time it doesn’t jus tmake you feel uselessly and helplessly guilty. Amy Goodman asks the question what CAN a consumer do? Just keep it in mind, and talk to your flower-sellers about where they buy their flowers from, how are the workers treated, etc. If there is a demand among consumers for fair employment practices, the producers and company-owners will be forced to take that into account and be more just. But seriously, I recommend listening to this one, or if you don’t have time, read a bit: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/14/1646235
Posted by: Shara | February 15, 2007 10:10 PM
Shara,
I saw that report on “Democracy Now!” as well. Three cheers for Amy Goodman. She and “DN!” exemplify everything that’s worthwhile in journalism.
On a side note, Goodman usually visits C-U once a year or so. I’ve probably attended half a dozen of her talks here and in Chicago since 2004. Don’t miss her when she’s in town next. She’s friendly, engaging, and tells some amazing stories.
Posted by: dporreca | February 15, 2007 10:27 PM
Yea I know! I saw her speak here a couple years ago. She is definitely my biggest role model. And I agree- Yay for DN!.
Posted by: Shara | February 17, 2007 8:26 PM