26 More than warm weather’s turning up the heat today! For all those poor ignorant fools who forgot to check their calendars, Valentine’s Day 2011 has fallen on Feb. 14 this year. Of course, it always falls on that day, and if you forgot, you might be falling from the good graces of that special someone (unless they really love ya). But maybe you really don’t care about the most popular day to celebrate love, in which case, you’re probably not alone. “I think it started off as a day to celebrate love,” stated junior Kostas Romeos (he’s single). “But now it’s more of an excuse for companies to make money because all the boyfriends are gonna buy stuff for their girlfriends.” It’s no lie that many people seize this day as a chance to “purchase affections” in the most positive sense of the phrase. When it comes to greeting cards, 180 million are exchanged on Valentine’s Day alone. It’s the No. 1 holiday for florists and in 2010 an estimated 198 million roses were produced specifically for the occasion. Sophomore Kendra Davis expressed some bitterness when she didn’t receive any flowers this year. “Don’t be that bitter. I love you!” said her boyfriend Jordan Covely, right before he planted a smackeroo on her forehead. Undaunted by the giant floral statistic, some couples find alternative ways to appreciate love. Whether it’s enjoying a nice dinner together, exchanging gifts, or making a pit-stop at classic Build-a-Bear, flowers aren’t the only key to unlock a lover’s heart. While men usually choose to participate in this holiday for romantic reasons, it’s also a great chance for anyone to show that they care to family, friends, and that neighbor down the street. Senior Matt Kauzlarich has been receiving something special from his mom around Valentine’s Day since he can remember. This year Kauzlarich decided to become a statistic and order his mom flowers. “I figure it could make up for 21 years of disappointment,” he chuckled lightheartedly. Although the origin of the day of love isn’t clear, it might have been a Roman fertility festival back in the day. Another legend commemorates St. Valentine, a Roman clergyman who was executed on February 14, 270 AD for marrying couples against the emperor’s orders. Whatever the case, Cupid’s arrow has pierced Americans once again, and if someone needs to know that you care, why not today? Get out there and spread the love bug! Data collected by IPSOS-Insight FloralTrends Consumer Tracking Study, 2005; and eNation National On-Line Research, Synovate, 2010. http://www.squidoo.com/valentines-day-statistics
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