Opinion: Valentine's Day is the worst holiday of the year

I love chocolate, stuffed animals, my fiancé and those spicy heart candies (in no particular order).

But I hate Valentine’s Day.

That’s a pretty bold statement for somebody who’s celebrating his first Valentine’s Day as an engaged man (I surprised her by proposing in December — I’ll surprise her even further by doing nothing on February 14).

Valentine’s Day is terrible for two kinds of people: those who are single and those who are in a relationship.

The single people are reminded (constantly) that they are alone and that they’re missing that “special someone” in their life (no stress, we’ve all been there).

Couples are reminded that not spending $250 on each other is a great way to start a fight.

Valentine’s Day should be optional for couples (it is, you can choose not to celebrate it and then be single afterwards — heyo!). Before new couples choose to go forward in their relationship, the last question they should address is, “do you like Valentine’s Day?” This way, at least you’ll be on the same page before getting into a serious relationship.

Speaking of being on the same page, part of the problem with Valentine’s Day is that it isn’t creative. Google provides all the answers after furiously searching ‘things to do on Valentine’s Day’ on February 13.

Restaurants, events, and activities cater too much to couples on VD. Joining hundreds of other couples on a date, doing the same thing isn’t different or creative (see: Instagram).

Plus, who’s idea was it to share a romantic holiday’s initials with that of venereal disease, anyways?

She’s clearly suffocating him (Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock)

The holiday was meant to bring couples together but has morphed into a commercialized excuse to flood florists, card companies, jewellery stores and restaurants.

It’s February, we’re only just starting to get over our post-holiday debt and now a forced Hallmark holiday is takes over the middle of the month and we’re expected to spend even more money.

My issue isn’t about romance. It’s about a day (in mid-February of all days) that reminds you to love your significant other. When all is said and done, nobody should need a forced holiday to convince your significant other that you love them.

Look at me and my fiancé for example — we just got engaged and I don’t need Valentine’s Day to prove to her that I am unquestionably and eternally in love with her.

Her [insert outrageous price here] thousand dollar engagement ring does that enough.

Happy FEBRUARY 14, everybody.