Be my anti-Valentine: Rallying against Cupid's corruption
Rebecca Lazarenko
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Culture
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Anti-Valentine's Day and the newly created Singles Awareness Day are following in the footsteps of anti-commercialism giants like Buy Nothing Day and D-I-Y Christmas. The out-of-nowhere attack of these un-holidays is hitting corporations where it hurts the most - espousing the existence of inherent narcissism in such red-letter days and attempting to reverse their ever-broadening commercial appeal.
The movement has divided itself into two consequential occasions: Singles Awareness Day and Anti-Valentines Day - both conveniently falling on Feb. 14.
"The exact founding of Singles Awareness Day is unknown," said Matt Brick, creator of singleawareness.com, a relatively new information portal.
"Our culture is definitely weighted towards couples, but in the [last] few decades the rise in divorce rates and other changes in society have fueled more single people than ever before."
Quite simply, Singles Awareness Day acknowledges an overriding pressure for companionship and acts as a cautionary tale to think of those who are truly alone. At once a celebration of independence and widening resource guide for the bored bachelors and bachelorettes, this movement also asserts the goal of a more conceptual humanitarian effort, suggesting a detachment from purely romantic love and the need to metaphorically embrace those excluded from mainstream holidays.
"One way to keep your sanity at Valentine's Day is to think of it as a day of love and not specifically couples," said Brick. "Concentrate on sharing your love with family members, friends or strangers because Valentine's Day should not be just about couples."
Brick also suggests volunteering your time - or at least a moment of your thoughts - to those who are actually alone, romantic affairs aside.
"Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home and visit someone who does not have any family," said Brick.
Brick's organization also addresses holiday suicide, suggesting that these specific occasions remind individuals that they have no one to share them with. In addition, Singles Awareness Day maintains an at once essential and lighthearted message of everyone's individual worth.
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