Bouquets of flowers, crush cans and chocolates are all expected and lovely gifts given on Valentine’s Day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 363 million dollars were spent on just flowers for the holiday. Despite this, many individuals stand on one side of an aisle, yay or nay on Valentine’s Day.

Although Valentine’s Day is often a day associated with spending time with a significant other or with spreading love, it’s the center of controversy. Many don’t see the holiday as a pink, lovey-dovey celebration but instead, as a capitalistic cash grab pushed by companies for profit.

Most purchasable Valentine’s Day celebrations are all tried and true. For years, gifts consist of all the same things. Whether it’s chocolates, a note, or a confession, Valentine’s gifts have stayed generic and haven’t changed in recent years.

According to Statista, many Americans report being disappointed by the gifts their partners give them. 30% of Americans said that the most disappointing gift they ever received was nothing because their partner forgot. On top of that, 8% find generic gifts impersonal and dissatisfying.

And in recent years, the percentage of couples celebrating Valentine’s Day has dropped. From 63% in 2007 to 56% in 2025, every year it dropped slightly. However, Statistics from the same site also say that 33% of people said outright that they’re not celebrating the holiday in 2025.

But not everyone is wallowing at the drop of enthusiasm for the holiday. According to Drive Research, 59% of people are celebrating Valentine’s Day, and 2024 saw an all-time high in dollars spent on gifts with 14.2 billion dollars.

It’s a day to remind the people you care about, not just a significant other but parents, siblings and friends. The day celebrates the connection of romantic and platonic love. It was fun to exchange cards with classmates in elementary school but that doesn’t have to stop, however awkward it may be, it would bring the Valentine’s magic to life.

Although Valentine’s Day is often seen as a capitalistic holiday, it’s nice to see a person putting effort toward celebrating your relationship: romantic or platonic. And while many may feel pessimistic about not having a Valentine, that’s not the point of the holiday. It’s about celebrating the people you already have and love in your life.