Valentine’s Day, named after St. Valentine, occurs on February 14, and it is a day to express love and affection between partners, significant others, family, and friends. While Valentine’s Day is typically associated with romantic relationships, in the past couple of years, a new day has been created for people to express their platonic love for one another. Galentine’s Day is celebrated the day before, on February 13.
The Emerald asked students about their thoughts on Valentine’s (and Galentine’s!) Day, and this is what they had to say:
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day with your family, friends, or a significant other?
“I think that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be lonely for people without a significant other, so appreciating my friends on a day about love is something that I do every year.” – Sarro Schuster ‘25
“My family and I share cute gifts to show that we appreciate each other.” – Alejandra Taylor ‘25
Do you think that Valentine’s Day is a corny holiday, or do you think that it is the perfect occasion to express love for someone else?
“I think Valentine’s Day can be a nice gesture if orchestrated properly. If it matters a lot to your partner, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to get them something. It can also be a fun holiday to spend with friends or the other people in your life you love. A lot of pressure is put on this holiday, but talking about it with your partner/loved ones is the best way to have a good holiday.” – Echo McDonald ‘26
“It’s campy but I love that.” – Claire Cannon ‘25
If you were to be gifted flowers or chocolates, which would you prefer?
“I prefer being gifted flowers because, to me, a good bouquet is more meaningful than chocolates. One that looks visually appealing gives me the sense that it took more effort to buy than chocolates. However, that is simply my opinion and may not mean the same for everyone.” – Christina Chew ‘27
Do you have a specific tradition that you do annually on Valentine’s Day?
“My best friend and I always celebrate Valentine’s [Day]… because we’ve known each other for most of our lives.” – Sarro Schuster ‘25
“Every year on Valentine’s Day, my mom gives me and my siblings chocolate baskets and a card. It is super sweet, and I love receiving it every year. I think Valentine’s Day isn’t just about spending it with a significant other, but also the other people you love in your life like your family.” – Maile Sanchez ‘24
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
“Valentine’s Day means spending quality time with the people I love and eating lots of candy while watching corny romcoms.” – Echo McDonald ‘26
“It means everything to me, because it was rare for me to be born on that day. But it does get annoying some years because I don’t always like getting “Happy Valentine’s Day” texts on my birthday.” – Jayla-Aniya Jordan ‘25
Do you know what Galentine’s Day is and do you think Galentine’s Day is needed in addition to the traditional Valentine’s Day?
“Galentine’s Day is the day where we show appreciation for our friends and loved ones who are not our significant others. I think it is necessary to have Galentine’s Day in addition to Valentine’s Day because friends should show their platonic love for each other.” – Izzy Guzman ‘25
“Galentine’s Day is a day for friends to get together to show their love and appreciation for each other. I think Galentine’s Day is a needed addition to traditional Valentine’s Day because it allows friends to celebrate their friendships with each other.” – Jasmine Lee ‘25
Do you think that Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day is better?
“I celebrate Galentine’s Day; the best part is getting candy on sale the day after.” – Sam Wai ‘25
“Both! You can spend time with your friends, and you should be able to express appreciation for everybody in your life.” – Aurora Chen ‘25
“I usually celebrate Valentine’s Day! Although I don’t celebrate with friends, I usually exchange gifts with family. It’s a fun holiday to express love.” – Courtney Mar-Lew ‘24
Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day are two very special days to express love for each other. Whether it be at the movie theater, a fancy restaurant, or the intimacy of home, February 13 and 14 may be the perfect days to start, renew, or reinforce relationships. Happy Valentine’s Day!
