With the holiday of romance and love passing by, surely a feeling of stress has also begun to settle in. The extra pressure to couple up for single folks and to perform highly, especially when it comes to gift giving for those in a relationship, it is very prominent as we enter February. But why is Valentine’s such a big deal; how did it get to be the face of relationships; and does it have enough meaning to be worth all of the fuss?

Many would argue that Valentine’s day is another money making scheme. Candy and flower companies definitely seem to thrive during this time of year. Every year the rush to buy roses and chocolate boxes sends a flood of money to companies like Hershey’s Co. and Hallmark Cards. Kamaron McNair writes in a CNBC News article, “Whether it’s on chocolate hearts or romantic dinners, Americans are planning to spend $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day this year.” Emptying your wallet to buy the most glamorous things definitely works for some people, but in the world of a high-school student, it is unrealistic for most. Not to mention, relationships often last shorter lengths of time at GHS in comparison to the adult world, so blowing a paycheck on friends, family, and significant others is not always worth it. But celebrating Valentine’s day with loved ones can still be admirable without going bankrupt.

Taking a look back at our generation’s days in elementary school is a great way to think about Valentine’s Day a little differently. It seems not that long ago when kids would decorate boxes and exchange cards and candy to each other. That excitement for a sticker and a snickers bar could not be beat. Traditions like that have been around for a very long time however, giving some insight that Valentines is more than buying a new necklace and some flowers. “The custom of trading valentines seems to have begun in Europe and the United States in the 18th century,” writes Alicja Zelazko in the Encyclopedia Britannica, noting quite some time before the first Hershey’s bar came around.

In fact, tons of other traditions have been used to commemorate the holiday of love for centuries as well, not just greeting cards, which have been popular since the early 1900s. National Geographic says candy has been “associated with romance at least since Mexico’s 15th- and 16thcentury Aztec Empire.” So maybe consider ditching the diamonds and celebrate the old-fashion way this year. Take after those from centuries ago and keep the traditions of small candies and homemade cards of gratitude alive. Because although small, they have a lot of history and meaning.

The history of Valentine’s Day is hard to track because it’s primarily made up of rumors, but the day is tracked back to the catholic religion. One rumor on History.com says that in third century Rome, “Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.” A priest, Valentine, deified Claudius and performed secret marriages. He was then sentenced to death and was killed outside of Rome for his crimes. Other rumors insist that Valentine was killed for helping imprisoned Christians escape. He was said to have sent the first Valentine’s day card to his lover while imprisoned himself. Any rumor does however paint Saint Valentine to be a martyr and worthy of celebration. Valentine’s cards still promote the idea of love, with or without thinking of the life of Saint Valentine.

Convinced or not that Valentine’s Day has a rich background, it is always fun to celebrate a holiday, especially during February to break up the gloom of winter. Lucky for the people of Bozeman, there’s plenty to do. Whether it’s taking a break and hitting the ski slopes or taking a stroll down Main St. in Bozeman with loved ones, love is in the air and maybe next year, the doubters of Valentine’s day will take the opportunity to acknowledge the history and take advantage of eating some candy and having some fun.