Happy Valentine’s Day!
The official day of love, overpriced flowers, and unnecessary pressure.
If you’re in a relationship, today feels like a test.
If you’re single, people act like you’re a lost puppy.
Either way, the world expects you to celebrate, whether you want to or not.
But here’s the truth: Valentine’s Day is not a love test.
It’s a commercial holiday wrapped in heart-shaped expectations.
So, let’s talk about how to actually enjoy it, with zero stress and minimal eye-rolls.
The History of Valentine’s Day (It’s Not Romantic at All)
Brace yourself: Valentine’s Day started with an execution.
Super romantic, right?
Back in ancient Rome, Emperor Claudius II had a problem.
He believed single men made better soldiers.
So, he banned marriages to keep his army focused.
But a rebellious priest named Valentine ignored the rule and secretly married couples anyway.
When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and sentenced to death.
Legend says while waiting for execution, Valentine fell for the jailer’s daughter and wrote her a note signed “From your Valentine.” (So technically, the first Valentine’s message was written from prison. Let that sink in.)
But the story doesn’t end there.
The Romans already had a wild February festival called Lupercalia.
Picture this: men sacrificing goats, stripping their skins, and whipping women with them for fertility. (Move over, overpriced roses, nothing says romance like a goat-hide slap.)
Eventually, the church stepped in and replaced Lupercalia with Saint Valentine’s feast day. But instead of whips and sacrifices, we now have candy hearts and candlelit dinners.
Quite the upgrade!
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and people started linking February 14th with romantic love, mostly because birds supposedly began mating around that time.
Yes, our Valentine’s traditions may have been inspired by birds.
Lovebirds, to be specific.
By the 1800s, the Victorians got involved.
They were obsessed with love letters, elaborate poetry, and dramatically sighing near windows.
This era gave us mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards, because why write your own feelings when a company can do it for you?
And today?
Well, we’ve swapped handwritten love notes for texts, over-the-top proposals, and social media flexing.
But deep down, Valentine’s Day is still what it’s always been, a weird, complicated holiday where people try way too hard.
What No One Tells You About Happy Valentine’s Day (But I Will)
1. It’s Not a Love Test
Let’s get one thing straight: Valentine’s Day does not define your relationship.
If your partner forgets to buy you flowers, it doesn’t mean they don’t love you.
If your best friend’s boyfriend surprises her with a trip to Paris, it doesn’t mean your relationship is failing.
Social media has turned February 14th into a competition, but love isn’t measured in grand gestures.
Real love is in the unseen moments:
When they make you tea without asking because they know you’re stressed.
When they send you dumb memes in the middle of the day just to make you laugh.
Or even when they don’t just say “drive safe,” but actually check that you made it home.
No fancy dinner or oversized teddy bear can beat that.
And let’s be honest, half the “romantic” gifts people give are totally useless.
Ever tried to cuddle with a 4-foot teddy bear?
Not comfortable.
Ever received a heart-shaped box of mystery chocolates?
There’s always that one disgusting flavor no one wants.
So, if you’re stressing about whether your partner did “enough” today, don’t.
Love is not a test!
It’s a daily practice.
And if they truly love you, it’ll show all year, not just when the calendar tells them to.
2. Single? You Win in So Many Ways
People act like being single on Valentine’s Day is a tragedy.
It’s not.
It’s a blessing.
While couples are stressing over reservations and overpriced gifts, you get to:
Eat whatever you want (no sharing).
Watch whatever you want (no compromising).
Spend money on yourself (best gift ever).
You don’t have to pretend to love flowers that will die in three days.
You don’t have to sit through an awkward dinner next to couples trying way too hard to be romantic.
And most certainly, you don’t have to smile and say, “Oh wow, thanks!” when your partner gives you perfume you’ll never wear.
Plus, being single means you get to enjoy Discount Chocolate Day on February 15th without guilt.
Now that’s a reason to celebrate.
3. Couples: You Don’t Have to Fake It
Here’s something no one tells you: You do not have to celebrate Valentine’s Day if you don’t want to.
There is no relationship rule that says you must buy gifts, plan a fancy date, or do something wildly romantic.
If you love grand gestures?
Go for it.
But if the idea of sitting in an overcrowded restaurant with a “special” (and overpriced) Valentine’s Day menu makes you cringe, skip it.
Some of the happiest couples I know do nothing on Valentine’s Day.
Instead, they:
Order takeout and eat it in pajamas.
Play video games together.
Watch horror movies instead of rom-coms.
Exchange joke gifts (one couple I know gave each other socks: 10/10 practical gift).
You get to make your own rules.
Love is about what works for you, not what society says you should do.
And if you’re in a relationship where Valentine’s Day is the only time your partner makes an effort?
That’s a red flag, my friend.
Love should be celebrated all year, not just when there’s a sale on heart-shaped gifts.
Weird but Genius Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World
Think giving chocolates and flowers is the only way to celebrate love?
Nope.
Some countries get way more creative (and honestly, some of these traditions sound way better).
1. Japan – Women Take Charge (For Once!)
In Japan, Valentine’s Day is all about the women giving gifts.
Yes, you read that right. Men do nothing.
On February 14th, women give chocolates to the men in their lives. But there’s a catch, there are different types of chocolates:
“Giri-choco” (obligation chocolate) – Given to coworkers, bosses, and random acquaintances. It’s the “I had to get you something” of chocolates.
“Honmei-choco” (true love chocolate) – Reserved for boyfriends, husbands, or that guy she’s secretly obsessed with.
“Tomo-choco” (friend chocolate) – For besties, because friendship is love too.
Then, on March 14th (White Day), men have to return the favor—usually with chocolates, jewelry, or even fancy lingerie.
Basically, women go first, and men better make it worth the wait.
2. South Korea – Valentine’s, White Day, AND Black Day
South Korea took Japan’s idea and cranked it up a notch.
They don’t just have one love-related holiday, they have three.
February 14th (Valentine’s Day) – Women give chocolates to men.
March 14th (White Day) – Men return the favor with gifts.
April 14th (Black Day) – Singles celebrate their lack of romance by eating black bean noodles (Jajangmyeon) together. Honestly, a holiday dedicated to comfort food? Yes, please.
So, if you’re single in South Korea, you don’t just sit there while everyone else is exchanging gifts.
You gather your single friends, order a giant bowl of noodles, and bond over how ridiculous love is.
Sounds like a win to me.
In Denmark, forget chocolates and flowers, here, people exchange humorous love poems called gaekkebrev.
These anonymous notes are filled with terrible rhymes and inside jokes.
Instead of signing their names, senders use dots for each letter of their name.
If the recipient guesses who sent it, they get an Easter egg later in the year.
So yes, you can literally trade romance for chocolate.
Genius!
Plus, instead of red roses, Danes give snowdrop flowers.
Why?
Because they’re unique, just like their love notes. (Also, they last longer than roses. Practical romance for the win!)
4. Germany – Forget Hearts, Have a Pig Instead
In Germany, Valentine’s Day is not about pink hearts and teddy bears, it’s about pigs.
Yes, pigs.
Mini pig figurines, pig-shaped chocolates, and even romantic cards with pigs on them.
Why?
Because pigs symbolize luck and lust in German culture.
Honestly, a pig holding a heart is way more memorable than a boring old box of chocolates.
Couples also exchange big, heart-shaped gingerbread cookies with messages written in icing.
But be warned, these cookies are rock hard.
You can eat them, but most people just wear them like a necklace for the day.
Fashion and food?
Multitasking romance.
5. Wales – Wooden Spoons Instead of Rings
Forget diamonds, Welsh lovers give each other spoons.
This tradition, called “Dydd Santes Dwynwen” (basically, the Welsh version of Valentine’s Day), dates back to the 17th century.
Men would carve intricate wooden spoons as a symbol of love and commitment.
The designs included:
Hearts (obviously, for love)
Locks and keys (meaning “You hold the key to my heart”)
Knots (for eternal love)
Even today, people in Wales still gift beautifully carved love spoons to their partners.
And let’s be real, this beats getting a stuffed bear that takes up half your bed.
6. The Philippines – Mass Weddings Galore
Valentine’s Day in the Philippines isn’t just about couples, it’s about hundreds of couples at once.
Every year, the government sponsors mass weddings where thousands of couples say “I do” at the same time.
It’s like the Super Bowl of weddings, with entire stadiums filled with newlyweds.
Why do they do this?
Because weddings are expensive, and this gives couples a chance to get married without going broke.
Plus, there’s something kinda magical about thousands of people declaring their love at once.
Bonus: way more wedding cake to go around.
7. Brazil – Love Can Wait, Carnival Comes First
In Brazil, Valentine’s Day doesn’t even happen on February 14th.
Why?
Because Carnival is way more important.
And let’s be honest, no one has time for chocolates and candlelit dinners when they’re busy partying in the streets.
Instead, Brazil celebrates “Dia dos Namorados” (Lovers’ Day) on June 12th, with gifts, romantic dinners, and music festivals.
That way, they get both an epic party and a romantic holiday.
Work smarter, not harder.!
After reading about all these traditions, you have to wonder… are we doing Valentine’s Day all wrong?
Japan lets women take charge.
South Korea gives singles their own day.
Denmark makes love funny.
And Germany, well… they have pigs.
Meanwhile, we’re over here panicking about dinner reservations, spending too much on roses, and pretending to love chocolates filled with weird mystery flavors.
So maybe this year, we should take some inspiration from around the world.
Write a funny love note.
Buy a pig-themed gift.
Or, you know, just eat noodles in peace.
Because that’s how you truly have a Happy Valentine’s Day.
How to Actually Have a Happy Valentine’s Day Without Losing Your Mind
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t feel like a stressful exam you forgot to study for.
But somehow, it always does.
The pressure.
The overpriced everything.
The expectation that one day should define your entire relationship.
No, thank you.
Let’s talk about how to actually have a Happy Valentine’s Day, without losing your sanity, your money, or your dignity.
First things first: your partner is not a mind reader.
I know, shocking.
If you want grand gestures, say so.
If you want to avoid the whole thing and just eat pizza, say that too.
No one is out here magically knowing that you secretly expect a handwritten love letter folded into an origami swan.
Communicating your expectations doesn’t kill romance.
It prevents unnecessary disappointment.
And while we’re at it, let’s address the Valentine’s Day social media madness.
That couple posting their luxury dinner?
Probably fighting about who’s paying.
That girl showing off her roses? Might’ve had to text her boyfriend five times to remind him.
Your Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to look like an Instagram ad, just make it work for you.
And what about gifts?
Let’s be real, most Valentine’s Day presents are completely unnecessary.
A giant stuffed bear?
Cool, now you have an unblinking, oversized roommate that takes up half the bed.
Expensive jewellery?
Great, but are we really pretending it means more than a heartfelt, “Hey, I remembered your favorite snack from childhood and bought it for you”?
Thoughtfulness always wins over price!
Some of the best gifts aren’t even things, they’re moments.
A playlist of songs that remind you of each other.
A framed meme of an inside joke.
A hoodie of your own so you stop stealing his.
If you don’t know what your partner wants?
Just ask.
Wild concept, I know.
Of course, things will go wrong.
Valentine’s Day chaos is basically a tradition at this point.
Restaurants will forget your reservation.
That “romantic” homemade dinner might turn into an unplanned fire drill.
You will see at least one heart-shaped pizza that looks like a crime scene.
And that’s fine!
Some of the best Valentine’s Day memories come from disasters.
The worse it goes, the funnier the story becomes.
A perfect date fades from memory, but the night you tried to be romantic and accidentally set off the smoke alarm?
You’ll be laughing about that for years.
And who says Valentine’s Day has to follow the same tired script?
If you hate fancy dinners, wear your fanciest outfit to a drive-thru.
Or, if you hate sappy romance, make it a prank day instead.
If you’re broke, write each other terrible love poems.
Or, If you hate crowds, have a picnic in the living room.
Valentine’s Day isn’t an exam with one right answer, so why not create your own traditions?
The best Valentine’s Days aren’t the ones that look good on paper.
They’re the ones that actually feel fun.
And for all the single people out there: Congratulations!
You won!
No awkward gifts that you have to pretend to love.
No forced small talk over an overpriced meal.
And, of course, no pressure.
Just you, doing whatever you want, completely stress-free.
Get yourself a gift.
Order an entire pizza with zero guilt.
Watch a ridiculous reality show in your pajamas.
Or better yet, celebrate the people in your life who actually make you happy.
Who says Valentine’s Day is only for couples?
Gather your friends for Galentine’s Day, Palentine’s Day, or Treat-Yourself-and-Take-a-Nap-entine’s Day.
Whatever makes you happy.
At the end of the day, a happy Valentine’s Day is great.
But a happy relationship all year?
That’s what actually matters.
A bouquet won’t make up for bad communication.
A fancy dinner won’t fix a lack of effort.
So instead of making February 14th the only day you show love, focus on doing it consistently.
The little things, the everyday kindness, the inside jokes, that’s what real love looks like.
And if all else fails?
Chocolate never lets you down!
Conclusion
A happy Valentine’s Day isn’t about fancy gifts or picture-perfect dates, it’s about real connection.
And the best way to keep that connection strong?
Better communication, more bonding, and a little bit of fun.
That’s where the Better Topics Card Game for Couples comes in.
It’s designed to help you and your partner communicate better, deepen your bond, and stay playful, all while having a great time.
With repeatable questions, you can play it endlessly, making every conversation fresh and exciting.
No more small talk, just real, meaningful moments.
So this Valentine’s Day (and beyond), skip the stress and focus on what really matters, your relationship.
Grab your deck of Better Topics, sit down with your significant other, and start a conversation that brings you closer than ever.
Love should be fun, after all!
