With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s important to know which traditions M-A students adore and which they resent. Keep these tips in mind when choosing a gift for someone special or planning a fun activity for the holiday.
Do flowers:
Flowers are a classic Valentine’s Day staple. As a romantic expression of affection, flowers have stood the test of time, remaining a sophisticated approach to showing someone how you feel.
“Find out your girlfriend’s favorite flowers and get them for her,” junior Zachary Quintana said.
“Flowers are a must. I think it would be great if you knew your girlfriend’s favorite flowers, but you can never go wrong with pink ones,” junior Yara Sorourr said.
“You should get her flowers, chocolates, and a big poster,” freshman Moises Bautista said.
Don’t do PDA:
Physical touch is one of many ways to express love. However, there is a time and a place. With the excitement of love in the air, it may be easy to get swept up in the holiday, but some students warn against these outward expressions of affection.
“Don’t make out in the hallways and be extra lovey-dovey,” senior Kirsten Trihy said.
Do candy:
What are flowers without chocolate? This iconic duo is beloved on our campus, with candy ranking high on people’s lists of Valentine’s Day wishes.
“At least give me chocolates or something. It has to be something thoughtful, but it doesn’t have to be something expensive,” sophomore Sindy Leiva said.
“I love Fun Dip and boxed heart chocolates on Valentine’s Day. I think it’s really cute when you write a little note on the packaging,” senior EB Hoffman said.
“Buy me chocolates, because candy is good for Valentine’s Day,” freshman Jose Henriquez said.
Don’t do savory snacks:
When planning what food to give someone for Valentine’s Day, keep in mind that it is seen as a sweet holiday, not a savory one. Dessert is much more accepted and desired, so steer clear of giving impractical salty snacks.
“I wouldn’t get someone something that’s not very tasty. For Valentine’s Day, it needs to be desserts. I wouldn’t get someone a pizza unless it’s heart-shaped,” junior Cubby Derrough said.
Do Jellycat stuffed animals:
The reign of fluffy teddy bears has been taken over by the British toy Jellycats this year.
“Get a Jellycat, because they’re cute and soft. I would want the bunny with the little heart in the middle,” sophomore Piper Rosenthal said.
“Sometimes stuffed animals are weird, but I think Jellycats are really cute,” senior Kaitlyn Harding said.
Don’t do lunch:
Dinner is popular among the student body, but lunch tends to get the opposite reaction. More inclined to do an activity with a significant other in the morning or the night, the afternoon becomes the forgotten hours of Valentine’s Day. Not as romantic as night and not as exciting as breakfast, lunch is seen as the most boring of date meals.
“Don’t get lunch. It’s not a good idea because you’re either tired from an event you had before or will be tired for an event you have after,” Quintana said.
Do solo activities:
For many, the most important part of the holiday is spending time with loved ones. There are endless options of activities to do, but when it comes to significant others, students prefer to spend the day one-on-one.
“For activities, go watch the sunset or go painting,” junior Simran Patel said.
“You could go on a picnic or go on a date to the aquarium,” Leiva said.
“Number one, go out and get food together. Number two, exchange gifts. Number three, go flower picking,” Derrough said.
“Don’t do something expensive, that’s what everyone does. Do something that you know your partner likes to do and that caters to their interests,” junior Angelique Maldonado said.
Don’t do group activities:
While celebrating Galentines is a great way to connect with friends, it’s important to have designated time spent with a partner. To ensure quality time spent together, make sure you carve out a part of the day to catch up and exchange kind words.
“If you’re in a relationship, hang out together, not with other people,” Patel said.
Do appreciate friends and family:
This day of love is not exclusively reserved for romantic love. It’s important to acknowledge everyone in your life who you care about, so make sure to spread your focus to everyone in your life.
“Tell everyone you love them. Tell your mom, your dad, your siblings, your friends. This could be with gifts cards or anything that’s sentimental. Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be a big, romantic thing,” Harding said.
“A do is to invite all your friends to a SoulCycle class on Valentine’s Day,” senior Ava Chansari said.
“Show care and affection to those around you. Be kind,” freshman Samantha Fuentes said.
Do homemade gifts:
While gifts are appreciated on Valentine’s Day, they do not necessarily have to be store-bought. Oftentimes more personal and cherished than retail merchandise, it’s never a bad idea to spend some extra time making a sentimental item for someone you love.
“Get your best friend a Valentine’s Day gift. Some ideas are rose grams, self-care kits, handwritten notes, or flowers made out of paper,” Trihy said.
“A present that would be really special to give is something you made. That would have more value to that person,” Maldonado said.
Don’t do a situationship:
If you are planning on spending the holiday with a significant other, make sure it is someone you trust to treat you with respect and kindness. Some people stay in relationships to have a partner on Valentine’s Day, but it’s not worth it unless they truly deserve your time. Save your energy for someone as romantic as Cupid himself.
“A don’t is to have a situationship on Valentine’s Day who treats you poorly,” Chansari said.
