On February 14 the holiday made for expressing love and affection, Valentine’s Day, is celebrated throughout the United States and many other countries. For some this romantic holiday is the highlight of the year. For others it is the bearer of broken hearts, hurt feelings and painful memories. Despite these affairs, for most people Valentine’s Day is a day for sharing candies, laughing and indulging in chocolates received from friends. Personally, my Valentine’s Day has always been a day to show my friends and family that I care for them. I write notes and expect to receive notes, give out candies and be given some in return and spend time with people I enjoy being around. For me, Valentine’s Day always turns out to be a fun and enjoyable day. Candies, gifts, cards and smiles surround my Valentine’s Day experiences. Most people agree that Valentine’s Day is a a day for celebrating love and devotion. The majority of people I interviewed said that Valentine’s Day is a fun, happy, spirited day. Liridion Papraniku, a junior, said that Valentine’s Day “depends on what kind of candy you get.” Papraniku went on to say, “it depends on if you are in a relationship or not.” Sophomore Branden Kroon agrees with Papraniku’s stance on Valentine’s Day. “[Valentine’s Day] depends on who you are, who you are with and how much chocolate you get,” said Kroon. Evidently, to males the amount of chocolate is more important than anything else on Valentine’s Day. Receiving these gifts has taken the spot of cherishing one another by placing emphasis on gift barter instead of celebrating mutual feelings of companionship. According to Freshman Jenny Wilcox, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate her friendship. She writes letters to her friends and exchanges candy. For most people the outcome of Valentine’s Day depends on the amount of sweets they receive. Although Kroon is unopposed to Valentine’s Day as a holiday, he does acknowledge one negative aspect. Kroon stated that he “dislikes all the pressures and the awkwardness” that Valentine’s Day brings. Wilcox supports Kroon on the stance that Valentine’s Day can bear negative prospects. Wilcox stated that Valentine’s Day may cause those lacking romantic relationships to feel alienated and lonesome. It seems that over the years Valentine’s Day has lost its original meaning. To most, romance, love and passion are ignored, and getting sweets has become an acceptable alternative. Perhaps if people became aware of the origin of Valentine’s Day they would embrace its essence and renew the purpose of the holiday. In conclusion, people should not be pressured to to recognize or embrace the social demands.