7 Dark Truths About Valentine’s Day 

During February every year, people around the world exchange flowers, candy, cards and jewellery among other things on Valentine’s Day. In as much as Valentine’s Day has a premise of affection it’s sometimes filled with lust and materialism.

According to the Greeting Card Association, approximately one billion Valentine’s cards are sent yearly. The U.S. National Census calculates an average of 3.5 million tons of candy annually consumed by Americans a large portion being consumed for Valentine’s Day. The Floral Index calculates an average of 110 million roses sold in the US on Valentine’s Day and Americans spend about $18 Billion on other gifts. Here are dark truths you should know about Valentine’s Day:

The origins of the special day are murky as some theories suggest connections to Roman festivals alongside dark undertones. The celebrations are said to have ties to rituals that involve fertility and animal sacrifices.

For individuals who are focused on dealing with issues like anxiety, grief and depression, the focus on receiving love on Valentine’s Day may exacerbate feelings of loss and sadness.

Social media may portray idealized romantic relationships that can set unrealistic standards for what relationships based on love should be portrayed.

In as much as romantic love is quite significant, the exclusive focus on 14th February may overshadow the significance of other types of love like self-love, familial love and platonic love.

The expectations to have the perfect Valentine’s Day may lead to conflict and stress. It may create pressure to conform to societal pressure and jeopardize the authenticity of one’s relationship.

The expectations to express your love and affection on a specific day may lead to forced or insincere gestures. Honest expressions of love should only come from genuine feelings and should not be dictated by a specific date on the calendar.

Social media amplifies the comparison game on Valentine’s Day. Seeing others receive elaborate gifts and experience displays of affection from their partners may lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity especially if someone’s own Valentine’s celebration doesn’t measure up.

The societal pressure on romantic love during Valentine’s Day may create unnecessary pressure on single people. This may lead to feelings of inadequacy or force them to get into relationships that may not be healthy for them.