patrícia furtado

I remember when it was all about sending cute cards. But eventually someone realised that brands could sell more if they could convince women that they were entitled to expensive gifts on that day. And how hard could that be?

A few years went by and now, stuff that has been quietly locked in 8-year-old girls’ bedrooms during the rest of the year, explodes onto every ad space available. Suddenly, everything is red or pink, silky or fluffy, heart or teddy bear shaped. Sickly, sugary and with cheese on top. And don’t get me started on the music!…

But, fashionable as it may be these days to hate Valentine’s, and to rant about how it’s all about spending money and not really about love… I confess: I do like Valentine’s Day.

So what if every special date is surrounded by a marketing frenzy nowadays? Dates only have the meaning we want to give them. And as a fierce routine hater, I welcome any excuse to go out and do something different, if not with a boyfriend, with friends or family.

If nothing else, we’ll celebrate the fact that all the lame love ballads and chocolate covered candy hearts are going back into the girly universe they belong to and will be neatly tucked away for another year! Hooray!