Valentine’s Day, named after St. Valentine, the Christian martyr who died on February 14th, was thought to originate from the Romans, who had a festival called Lupercalia. Of course, it’s come a long way since then, and the meaning of the holiday has changed significantly, in different ways for different people.

Every romantic out there will tell you that Valentine’s Day is something to be cherished, a day dedicated to spending time with your partner and loved ones, a chance to spoil them in the classic combo of chocolates and stuffed animals that say, ‘I Love You’ in cheesy cursive font. 

“My boyfriend and I are going out to dinner,” says Junior Jade Bay. “We’ll probably play mini golf, go out to a movie. Valentine’s Day, I think, is a great excuse to show people how much you love them. It’s a great holiday.” 

The more cynical side of the argument would say that Valentine’s Day is nothing more than a commercial holiday, a day companies can sink their teeth into the ignorant consumer. To a cynic, the best part of Valentine’s Day isn’t Valentine’s Day at all. It’s the day after, where the candy is 50% off. 

Senior Reagan Gargac is one of those people, “Personally my only plans for Valentine’s Day is burning my Ex’s clothes,” she says. “Getting together with a bunch of friends, starting a bonfire, and throwing all of our ex’s stuff into it. Pictures, clothes, everything.” 

Of course, Valentine’s day doesn’t have to be strictly about romantic love. Platonic love can also be celebrated, as well as familial. 

Abigail Moore, a Senior at JA, agrees, “I think that Valentine’s Day is a good holiday. It’s an opportunity to embrace the multiple types of love in our lives whether that’s romantic, platonic, or even self-love. It’s a great reminder of how we can express love in many ways and appreciate those around us.”