0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} February 14 is the day that people express their love for each other by flowers, gifts, candy and greeting cards. Saint Valentine’s Day, or more commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of both ancient Roman and Christian tradition. The holiday was created to commemorate Saint Valentine, a priest that served in third century Rome. Emperor Claudius II made it against the law that single men could get married for military reason. Valentine preformed marriages anyway and for punishment Claudius had him killed around 270 A.D. Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, but traditions vary due to the customs of the other countries. Valentine’s Day does not really affect me much. Usually, my mom gets a box of chocolates and flowers for the family to share. The holiday is kind of overrated. It seems to me that businesses promote Valentine’s Day so you will spend money. Shouldn’t every day be the day that you express your love for the ones most close to you? “Valentine’s Day is a holiday perpetuated and propagated by retail companies for profit, especially the floral and greeting card industries,” said Bret Mason, my father. The holiday is not a big deal; it is just like any other day. “I love Valentine’s Day because it is the one day that you get to be sappy and sentimental and no one can make fun of you,” said Jane Eckhoff, a junior at Dimond. Most girls tend to enjoy Valentine’s Day more than guys, because they are more interested in being social and developing a relationship. “Valentine’s Day is fun because it gives you a chance to do something nice for someone else, to show them that you love them with some flowers or chocolates. It could even give you a chance to blossom some new romance. Who doesn’t like to be asked to be a Valentine, right? People get in the spirit and it makes them more outgoing, and who knows what that might get you? Maybe a date?” said Josie Castle, a Dimond graduate now a freshman at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Guys, for the most part, do not really enjoy or get much out of Valentine’s Day. “I do not like Valentine’s Day,” said Tristan Gray, a junior at Dimond.