What Does Valentine’s Day Mean Growing Up Around It
Valentines’ Day, the day of love, romance, and all the cutest things, can find many getting lost in all of the hearts, chocolates, and pink everything. There are many ways you could take it as, celebrating a loved, getting all of the candies, and even just the aesthetic of it all. What does it actually mean?
Well, it changes but still stays the same messages as one ages. the feeling of love. For the young, Valentine’s Day meant cute candies. Valentine’s Day grams for friends, donuts, and just the adorable hearts, balloons, and chocolates hold great significance. This feeling of the joy of seeing love but not really understanding it made it so special.f
“I love getting candy from my friends, and decorating candy bags,” said Gabriella, who is seven-years-old.
As everyone eventually ages, the holiday changes. It becomes more about whether you had a Valentine. Of course, there were still in middle school the passing out of candies, grams, etc., but it didn’t feel that excitement without an actual love interest.
“Okay, Valentine’s is a holiday where you get to express to people how much they mean to you whether they’re strangers or friends or a boyfriend or someone who isn’t here anymore. You show them how much you love them through your actions, and overall just a day dedicated to love, “ said Vanessa, a 13-year-old.
For older teens, Valentine’s now can feels a bit more pressure especially in college. The meaning of Valentine’s was more about making it seem fun and showing the love you have in your life whether it was from boyfriends or friends, as well as those you love in your life
As adults, Valentine’s Day isn’t really about handing out candy to your whole class or stressing over who your “Valentine” is. It becomes more intentional. It’s about choosing someone and being chosen back. It can mean going out to dinner, planning something thoughtful, or even just staying in and appreciating the person you love. For some adults, it’s not even romantic — it’s about showing love to friends, family, or even yourself. Valentine’s Day as an adult feels less about the hype and more about genuine connection, effort, and understanding of what love actually means beyond the dating and candy
As you can tell, Valentine’s Day changes as we grow up. Through the fun candies and hearts of childhood, and all the dating and pressures of being a teen and a young adult, the meaning of Valentine’s Day changes, but it still has the same themes: Love and how you show it to the people around you.
As you reflect on this past Valentine’s Day, please remember to spend time with the people you love, whether it’s friends, family, boyfriends, or even yourself.
