Valentines Day has morphed into quite a beast – spending varies substantially by state, but in the US alone consumers were projected to spend a whopping 27.4 billion dollars this year!
Clearly some enjoy celebrating the holiday as Hallmark intended, but a backlash to traditional activities and the associated consumerism has also emerged.
While discontent with its commercialization is nothing new – people have been critical of it since as early as 1847 – in the last few years there has been renewed interest in non-traditional Valentines Day activities.
Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s Day is the new Valentines Day for some. Celebrated the day before on February 13, this holiday is all about female friendships and celebrating those special friends you have in your life.
The term was initially coined by Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope on the American series Parks and Recreation. It started out as just a comedy routine, but more and more women are participatiing in this fancy girls night out.
Ditch Dinner for Brunch
Dinner reservations are hard to come by on Valentines Day if you don’t plan far in advance, so why not consider brunch? A foamy latte or a big buttery stack of pancakes at a cozy brunch spot can be just as, if not more, romantic than dinner.
Take a Hike
Stop fighting the crowds at restaurants, bars, and other popular Valentines Day venues and tell your significant other to take a hike (or just a nice, long walk). Find some new trail you haven’t checked out and go exploring together or just hoof it around your neighborhood for an hour or so, but you’ll get lots of fresh air and have time for a nice one-on-one conversation, far from the madding crowd.
Visit the Zoo
The zoo is not very crowded in Seattle and Tacoma in the middle of the winter, so you and your date can take in the animals without a crowd to keep you from seeing your favorite pachyderm or squirrel monkey.
Legos or Board Games
Yes, seriously. Maybe acting like a kid doesn’t sound very romantic, but returning to your younger self and playing with some Legos or a game of Chutes & Ladders or Clue can be a lot of fun with the right person! Add some wine with the fun, and you’re all set.
Nothing
From time to time, we all find ourselves in seasons of unusual busyness and stress. During those times, all we want is a break.
If you find yourself slammed day-in and day-out, you could always spend this year’s Valentine’s Day in. If you have kids, maybe a relative can take them for the night, or you can get a hotel and an overnight sitter.
Source: wallethub.com/blog/valentines-day-facts
