People gather on Feb. 14 every year to celebrate what seems to be a quite happy holiday, but underneath all the chocolate kisses and mushy cards can be a bitter side to the holiday.
Nothing can be worse than dwelling on misery and jealousy on a day lovers rejoice, but that is exactly the way St. Valentine’s Day started, according to a third century Roman legend.
HistoryChannel.com said the Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred saints by the name of Valentine.
One legend says a priest named Valentine defied Emperor Claudius during the third century in Rome. Claudius had outlawed marriage for young men in order to boost the Roman army and Valentine continued marrying young couples in secret. When Claudius found out about the secret marriages he ordered that Valentine be put to death, Historychannel.com said.
Although none have been put to death, some LSU students have experienced enough bad Valentine’s Days to hate the entire holiday.
Constance Olinde, an anthropology freshman, said she experienced several horrible Valentine’s Days in a row. One year she was so sick she ended up in the hospital two days later because her doctor gave her too much medicine.
The year after that she got kicked out of her house and had to move back into her parents’ house, she said.
“I found out my girlfriend was cheating on me,” said Tommy Serebrov, an international studies freshman. He said it was the worst Valentine’s Day he ever had because he ended up dumping his girlfriend.
Joanna Schellenger, an accounting junior, said Valentine’s Day is overrated. Her worst experience was when her boyfriend of five years did not call her on Valentine’s Day. She asked him why he did not call and his response was, “Why didn’t you call me?”
Not every student can admit to complete hatred of Valentine’s Day, but many have friends who have experienced huge disappointments every year.
Tony Hilton, a graphic design sophomore, said his friend spent $200 on gifts for a girl he was not dating, only to discover someone else did the exact same thing, leaving him with a handful of gifts.
Keri LeJeune, a mass communication sophomore, said her friend dumped a boyfriend two days before Valentine’s Day only to discover he had a bed and breakfast trip planned for them.
Other students have not had the luxury of experiencing a true Valentine because they are always “on the rebound” when the special day rolls around.
Corey Robillard, a biological sciences sophomore, said he is not looking forward to Valentine’s Day because it is always a letdown.
Catherine Tricou, a textiles, apparel and merchandising freshman, worried that this year could be the worst Valentine’s Day because she has no boyfriend at the moment.
Students agree Valentine’s Day is over-commercialized, but they still like getting gifts.
Phillip Hart, a chemical engineering freshman, said he dislikes Valentine’s Day because the whole concept commercializes the most important thing in life, which is love.
Although Serebrov believes Valentine’s Day is a “bad holiday,” he does enjoy the heart-shaped candy.
“I don’t hate it, but I dislike it with a passion,” said Heather Lindsay, an undecided freshman. Lindsay thinks she would like it more if she ever got a gift on Valentine’s Day.