Published on 10:53 PM, February 07, 2023

A ranking of all the days leading up to Valentine’s Day

Design: Fatima Jahan Ena

The day for love already has a reputation for being capitalistic and preying on lovestruck couples, and it only gets worse with every iteration. Corporations have finally decided that just one day isn't enough for them, and now couples will need to invest into the week leading up to Valentine's Day so they can truly show how much they mean to each other.

Here's a ranking of all these days, based on how convincing they are as legitimate ways to celebrate.

#7: Teddy Day (10 February)

Teddy bears make adorable gifts for Valentine's day – they're cute, cuddly, and can remind someone of their loved one. But having a set day for just gifting teddy bears is a bit much considering how expensive the higher quality ones can be. There's always the chance to take the more affordable route, but then the teddy bears might fall apart soon, and that's not the best look.

#6: Rose Day (7 February)

Historically, red roses have been a popular symbol of love. As grand as the gesture of presenting your loved one with a bouquet of roses may seem, keepin mind that the flowers are unfortunately very perishable. Today's fancy bouquet will eventually turn into a pile of sad, withered petals in a couple of days, which are eventually headed to the trash, meaning it's really not the most concrete way to show love.

#5: Chocolate Day (9 February)

Chocolates are arguably the most common gifts you can give and they're a staple of Valentine's Day. Because of this, prices for them hike up about a week before the special day. However, this hike doesn't feel justifiable, since the only thing that might change at most is the packaging. The flavours are usually random, too, which contribute to making the act of giving your loved one chocolates not worth it.

#3: Promise Day (11 February)

The premise for this day is for couples to make a promise to each other, one that can never be broken. It can be a good opportunity for them to promise something special for the other person. As long as their promises aren't something too hardcore, it's another fun thing they can do to cement their trust in one another.

#2: Hug Day (12 February)

Hugs are one of the most universal ways to show the people they love how much they mean to them. It might feel a little cheesy and maybe even a bit redundant to have a whole day just dedicated to it, but it's still a wholesome thing to do to celebrate nonetheless.

#1: Propose Day (8 February)

At the end of the day, Valentine's should be a day for couples to declare their love. Taking a day for this can be a sweet way to reignite the flames, and remind each other why they got together. It costs nothing, and if they struggle on this day, their schedules are about to open up for the following week.

Namreen is sick and tired. Send a reminder that life goes on at: namreen.shaiyaz@gmail.com