Lots of people poo poo at Valentine’s Day. It’s so commercial, it’s so fake… I get it. I really do. As I get older, however, I am realizing that every single holiday is commercial. It’s how you celebrate it yourself that matters. Just as we give thanks and offer remembrance to indigenous peoples instead of donning ridiculous pilgrim hats for Thanksgiving, we celebrate love in all its forms during the first 14 days of February.
And we decorate with hearts. Lots and lots of hearts.
Like Halloween and Christmas, my family does a Valentine Advent Box. I made it for Wood Sprite when she was two or three. Every day, we do Valentine crafts, cards and activities. Sometimes we also have treats. My favorites, of course, are the love-themed books I buy her for the occasion. Most aren’t romantic love themed (she would not enjoy that anyway), but rather about the love of families, pets or even night.
We also make love a big theme for two weeks. We write down things we love about each other in our Book of Love. We make posters about what we love about each family member in pairs (she and I will make one about Indy, for example). This year, I plan on incorporating much more self-love, especially since Sprite is becoming more self-conscious lately.
For Wood Sprite’s valentine, we are getting her one of these adorable Vamplets. Don’t tell! She’ll get this little cutie on Valentine’s Day, as she always gets a stuffed animal on the day. Papa and I sometimes exchange small gifts, sometimes not. Last year I bought him a movie he’d been trying to find (Spirited Away, which is now pretty easy to find) and some McClure’s pickles he’d always wanted to try; this year I’ll probably do something similar.
What are your plans for Valentine’s and how do you celebrate?
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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