Valentine's Day: (Un)meaningful holiday?

You can think what you like about it, but just like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve, it comes around again every year on February 14: Valentine's Day. Hardly any other holiday is viewed as critically as the "day of love". For some, a gray cloud of cynicism hangs over them, growing a little larger with every greeting card and every cotton candy commercial. Others are already walking around in a rose-tinted mood in the weeks beforehand, on their way to the peak day of romance. And then there's the liberal gray area, who don't really care about anything, but who secretly ask themselves the question "Does this whole "celebration" even make sense?"

Don't worry, this isn't going to be an "X reasons why Valentine's Day is stupid" article. Just as little as the written version of a "Witness to Valentine's Day" conversion. Because I am one of those people who find themselves in the wonderful gray area and have made it my mission to move the two opinion groups a little closer together in this post. Will you take the challenge?

Valentine's Day - feelings of happiness for some, flood of triggers for others

In general, I have to say that I find the concept of celebrating love on a single day of the year really strange. I know I'm not the first person to use this phrase, but shouldn't love be celebrated every day of the year? And regardless of who it's for? To partners, friends, children, family, the gym crew or - most importantly - to yourself...?
I also don't want to celebrate self-love too much in this article, because despite the importance of the message, the constant barrage of "single-inclusive" ads and texts can be quite annoying, especially at this time of year. In fact, there are far too many people for whom the spit-roast through the suddenly love-crazy consumer world starts as early as the end of January. You actually start to wonder whether you're the only person in the world who doesn't spend this day entwined together on the couch or exchanging romantic glances with your own glass of red wine instead of a second pair of eyes. I feel you! Bad thoughts then creep into my head... If Valentine's Day is a "celebration" day for couples, is Single's Day in November the consolation for everyone else? For someone whose relationship has, with crowning irony, completely imploded on Single's Day and who is now stumbling along the road to Valentine's Day alone, it's not necessarily a comforting effect. For many partnerless people, the level of satisfaction with the situation is simply still room for improvement - to put it diplomatically. All those days dedicated to whatever relationship status are just salt in the wound.

The point is (and I'm sure most people know it): February is breeding ground for breakup pain and heartbreak. So let's cut each other some slack, whether we're happily in a relationship or enjoying all the perks of being alone. Because we, who are struggling a little more than we already are, don't need couple shows and self-love prophets. We just want to think everything sucks for a while. And that's perfectly okay.

Valentine's Day - gifts, chocolate and candlelight

I want to be completely honest with you. This article didn't come about as casually as it (hopefully) reads. To be honest, it was quite a "pain in my ass". I've asked myself so many times what you, the reader, are supposed to gain from giving a few minutes of your day to my words. I just don't have any special feelings for Valentine's Day and perhaps even think the whole thing is a bit over the top. That's why you won't get any tips from me for activities, gifts and surprise plans - there are already plenty of other blog posts on the WWW. But what I can and would like to give you is a feeling that the day is not about finding it beautiful or superfluous. Ultimately, we all have that in common: the need for closeness. For me, a day like Valentine's Day serves as a little reminder at the beginning of the year not to lose sight of something very essential: To take time for yourself and for the people you love.

I don't know about you, whether you're in a relationship, happily single or newly separated, but I'm increasingly getting the feeling that the beginning of this year was characterized by a slightly depressed, stressful mood. We're in the third year of coronavirus and are tired of life's restrictions, but at the same time, the coronavirus wave is very reminiscent of the lockdown mood from a year ago. Can a day that celebrates love perhaps take on a new meaning in this context? Can it remind us to calm down and create beautiful moments, even during not so beautiful times? I think that's exactly the message we all need to hear more often at the beginning of this year.

That's why I would like to recommend you: Make the day really nice! Or if it can't be the day, then take the time on another day, but take it. Treat yourself to some chocolate, a really nice candlelight dinner with relaxing music, go to your favorite sport, buy yourself that shirt, necklace or whatever you've had your eye on for a while. Maybe treat your skin and soul with a little JUNGLÜCK-Indulgence some time out. No matter what your current relationship status is, do something for yourself - alone, with your partner, friends, family, kids, gym buddies or bowling club. Do what's good for you and use this Valentine's Day as a reminder to keep at it.

Valentine's Day this year: time to get closer

I honestly think this headline is wonderful, because no matter who you are, you understand it in your own individual way. "Time to get closer". This can mean spending time with yourself, giving yourself love. Or meeting a special person in your life, giving yourself more closeness and, above all, attention. Or showing gratitude to a group of people you like to surround yourself with.

If we don't see Valentine's Day as a questionable holiday, but as a reminder to slow down, take a deep breath, spread and receive some soul balm, then it gives the day a whole new meaning. Perhaps not only February 14 can become Valentine's Day in this way. But also March 14, April, May, June and so on. Let's make sure that we don't get bogged down in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, jobs and obligations, but instead conjure up little special moments and experiences time and again. Are you with us?