Valentine’s day is possibly the worst holiday and it’s about time we changed it. A common complaint is that it is overly commercial, with people in relationships pressured to purchase heart shaped gifts or cards with terrible puns like ‘I whale-y love you’. The demand for cut flowers increases, leading to estimations of high environmental impacts due to Valentine’s day demands. The traditions also consciously exclude people who are not in a relationship, prompting a trend of Anti-Valentine’s Day parties which celebrate in the opposite way. Instead of a private, romantic evening the key to an Anti-Valentine’s Day party is to bring together lots of friends for a light-hearted, slightly silly celebration. Pinterest is full of ideas, including cookies decorated with the saying like, ‘No’ or ‘Swipe left’. Unfortunately, lockdowns and restrictions this year mean that singles and couples all need new ways to celebrate the holiday. Let’s make Valentine’s day 2021 different, less damaging to the Earth, and not dependent on relationship status.
Here is my list of activities you can enjoy with someone important in your life right now, if that’s your friends, family, or yourself:
1. Bake cookies.
You can make them pink, or just be proud that they didn’t burn. For maximum taste, eat in bed while watching Netflix. This recipe is great to enjoy alone because the dough balls can be kept frozen until you’re ready to cook another batch, reducing food waste!
2. Have a spa night.
Step 1 is to make a homemade facemask. I offer no guarantees it will work, but sometimes it’s fun to put food on your face. The second step to my skin care routine is to sign a petition like this one to reduce air pollution, which not only damages health but also can age the skin.
3. Go on a winter walk.
Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and take pretty photos of any flowers or plants you see. Who needs a partner to give you a bouquet when nature provides such beauty?
4. Show some love to bees.
Gift flowers or shrubs that can be planted in a garden or planter box. They will last longer than cut flowers! Bees favorite plants can depend on the season and location but there are lots of resources to help. This website allows US and Canadian residents to enter their postal code for specific recommendations.
5. Get creative.
If you don’t have a green thumb, origami flowers can be fun to make. Practice first with some old paper or newspaper. Pages from an old book can look beautiful when turned into flowers. This YouTube tutorial shows an easy way to make tiny little roses, perfect for decorating a card.
6. Call someone.
Valentine’s day can be hard, especially for people who have been through a break up this year, or who enjoy Valentine’s traditions and wish they could spend the day with a romantic partner. If you’re thinking of a friend or family member give them a call or, if you can, spend the day together.
(We are not sponsored by any of the links!)
- Katie Palmer
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