Is Valentines Day a waste of money?

I think there are two ways of looking at Valentine's Day:
1. Why have one day of the year devoted to romance when you could retain the same frame of mind all year round?
2. It's nice to have a special day devoted to romance.

Personally I subscribe to no. 1, but I suspect a lot more women than men would subscribe to no. 2, as they like to feel they are the centre of someone's universe now and again :-) Personally, this particular male is content to share a small proportion of any lady's universe with a number of other male partners. I wouldn't hold it against them :-)

Here in Japan, it's women who are expected to observe the occasion and buy the guys in their lives chocs. This means not only their "significant other" but also various other male acquaintances. For example daughters may buy their Dads chocs, or working women may do the same for their male office colleaguessuperiorsbosses. The latter case is known as "giri choko" ("obligatory chocs" :-)

On March 14 there is a day set aside for guys to return the favour, and woe betide them if they forget ! :-) This "payback" may not necessarily be chocs, but something rather more substantial: sometimes jewelry and the like. So it usually works out pretty well for the women on balance: for a small investment in Valentine chocs, they can reap a substantial dividend :-) A survey conducted a few years back revealed that Japanese women expected their significant others to spend at least 5 times more on them than the original outlay for the chocs :-)

As to whether all this is a waste of money, my guess is that it's not the case for women, whereas for men it might be regarded as an essential outlay if they want to continue enjoying conjugal rights :-)

Skebbie (and all), don't forget that March 14 here is Steak and Blow Job Day.

I didn't believe it either.

EG: Wasn't aware of that. (Been away too long :-)

So UK situation seems the reverse of that in Japan, except (as far as I know) guys here don't get steaks and BJs on Feb 14 :-)

As to Valentine's Day, I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.