"Oh yeah, today is that romantic holiday..."

I don't like Valentine's Day.

Maybe it's because I don't need any more "socially acceptable" excuses to eat obscene amounts of chocolate and candy.

Maybe it's because I'm single and I don't appreciate a holiday that makes me feel insignificant or inferior compared to those who are "lucky enough" to be in a relationship.

Either way, this year I chose to avoid the commercialized hype by researching the origin of the so-called "holiday."
As is typical of many an American holiday, our present-day interpretation has nothing to do with the events and/or people associated with its creation.
The historical account of the holiday is centered around a man with the surname Valentine. Exactly who Valentine is, however, is actually somewhat mysterious. I found a number of different interpretations of the legend. This was my favorite interpretation:

“One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.”

So okay, Saint Valentine was a romantic. His importance in the modern day holiday, however, is virtually non-existent. Cupid-the winged, arrow-wielding, practically naked adolescent of Roman mythology-gets more recognition!

My Freshman year of college, a bunch of my single friends and I got together and declared the day Singles Awareness Day. Our boycott included ordering pizza and watching Love Potion #9.

*Ironically, and perhaps a little disappointingly, the acronym for our anti-romance holiday turned out to be S.A.D. But it was a very fun night, not at all sad!

Single Ladies at the Sechrist front desk

Getting cozy on the infamous blue futon to watch the movie! (I'm holding Melvin, my stuffed moose and the "official" mascot of Sechrist hall!)

Two years later I spent Singles Awareness Day indulging my crush on Dr. Derek Shepherd (known as "McDreamy" on the TV show Grey's Anatomy). That was a lot of fun, too!!

Me and Becca (and Melvin the moose again!)

This year I officially named Melvin the moose my Valentine "by proxy." He's been around for the last five years, and I've never given him due credit!

Me and my man (I mean moose!) Melvin!!

Whether your day includes candy hearts and roses or not, remember to wish a happy "statehood" day to Arizona...the Grand Canyon State is 98 today!!