SINGAPORE: Valentine’s Day has finally arrived, but some Singaporeans have shared online that they have no plans to celebrate the occasion.
The conversation started after one user asked online, “Are there Singaporean couples who don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day? I’m genuinely curious about this.
“I’ve seen a number of posts asking for gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, but I wonder if there are couples (married or unmarried) who choose not to celebrate it. If you and your partner don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s fine too.”
Many users responded that they’ve stopped celebrating the special day and explained why. Here are some of their thoughts:
Everything is overpriced
Many believe Valentine’s Day is nothing more than an overpriced gimmick. One user shared how she and her husband used to celebrate it in their younger days but eventually stopped when they hit their 20s.
She said, “I told my boyfriend/now husband to not spend any money on gifts because to me flowers are waste of money and I don’t enjoy chocolates/sweets. I don’t fancy gifts too. More so, everything is priced so high just as long it relates to ‘Valentine’s Day,’ plus restaurants and streets are so crowded.”
Another commented, “To me it’s over-hyped, pure commercial rubbish. Pay for overpriced flowers and eat an overpriced set meal that’s overcooked, and be waited on by overworked staff trying their best to deal with the crowd? Sounds like hell of a way to be celebrating a relationship, if you ask me.”
Love shouldn’t be limited to just one day
Some also thought that love shouldn’t be confined to a single day. One user shared that he and his partner have never celebrated Valentine’s Day because they already express their affection daily and don’t see the need to make a big deal out of Feb 14.
Another called it a “marketing scam,” arguing that love should be shown every day, not just on designated occasions.
He said, “I don’t, we both think it’s just a scam to get consumers to pay more for stupid things just like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day etc. Why do you need one special day to celebrate or be kind or do something special for your loved ones? You should do that everyday and be loving to them!”
A matter of personal choice
A few others shared that they’re simply not into it. One user mentioned that she and her husband, married for over a decade, have never marked Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or even anniversaries.
She explained, “I guess we just don’t go for big celebrations because of our personalities haha. Even our wedding was tiny.
“In more than fifteen years together, he has only given me flowers once. I dried and kept them and asked him never to give me flowers again. To each their own, and I totally get why people enjoy celebrating these occasions.”
Busy work schedule
For some, life gets in the way. One couple, busy with kids and work, said they just want uninterrupted sleep rather than a fancy date.
They shared, “We both just want to lie down and sleep undisturbed for 12 hours or something. We make effort to celebrate dating and wedding anniversary though. Because those are milestone dates to us.”
It’s more about business than love
Some also feel that Valentine’s Day has lost its meaning and become nothing more than a business-driven event. One couple, who both work in industries affected by the holiday (F&B and events management) shared that Feb 14 is one of the most exhausting days of the year for them. Because of that, they’ve never felt compelled to celebrate it.
Another said, “We don’t celebrate it, its just a commercialised day to us and the date doesn’t mean anything to us. Anniversaries and birthdays are more meaningful.”
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