Here Are Some Options For Everyone Not Celebrating Valentine’s Day

For many of the chirpers in our audience, Wednesday will be a day marked by romance — a box of chocolates, a dozen roses, a candlelit dinner, etc. — but there are plenty of others who, for whatever reason, aren’t inclined to partake in the holiday.

Perhaps you are single, maybe you think Valentine’s Day is just a scam to sell cards and candy, or it could be that you’re just not into romantic gestures. If so, there’s good news: It’s easier than ever to find an “anti-Valentine’s” alternative that will help you redirect Cupid’s arrow.

Here are a few ways you can turn the holiday on its head:

• Support a cause: Sure, you can donate to charity any day of the year, but Valentine’s Day presents a unique opportunity for those of you who are still a little bitter about a relationship that went awry. The San Antonio Zoo is once again hosting a fundraiser whereby roaches and rats are named after someone (usually the donor’s ex) and then fed to one of the animals. Morbid? Maybe. But it’s certainly an innovative spin on Valentine’s Day.
• Laugh it off: They say laughter is the best medicine. And if you’re nursing a broken heart or just tired of the hearts and roses lining the aisles of every store, there are comedy shows like one in London during which singles in the audience can share stories about their bad relationships and couples are open targets to be made fun of by the comedians on stage.
• Focus on yourself: A little retail therapy never hurt anyone, and this week’s holiday provides an increasingly popular opportunity. The online retailer Etsy, for example, recently revealed that searches for “self-gift” on the platform are 12% higher this year than the days leading up to last Valentine’s Day.

Chris Agee February 12th, 2024

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