Valentine's Day

I don't know about you, but I remember Valentine's Day being a huge deal when I was younger. Like, in the same realm as Easter when it comes to candy getting-ness.

In elementary school, making shoeboxes into mailboxes for Valentines with tissue paper and hearts, then getting at least one Valentine (and usually candy) from each kid in your class. In high school, buying heart-shaped lollipops and/or roses for your friends or significant others.

I have the funniest memories of this day from middle school and high school, from a girl getting the Dixie Chicks cd from her "boyfriend" (we were 13), to me getting a huge potted plant that I had to lug around all day during V-day freshman year.

So I got really excited about doing my Valentine's Day lesson here. To be fair, it was probably one of my more successful lessons, though not at first. When I told the kids that we were talking about Valentine's Day, there were groans and complaints all around. But, we learned the history of the holiday, and then they all got to make a Valentine. I emphasized that it could be for anyone-moms, dads, friends, whoever. I think that helped, and I ended up getting some good, albeit funny, cards.

My favorite ones:

Elizabeth, you are a cutie, but I am a baby.

Dearest Eli- you and me, heart to heart, it's a dream. I love you.

You are a honey. I will miss you when you go to the America.

So, in conclusion, Valentine's Day in Spain in nowhere near as big of a deal than in the United States. Yes, it's probably due to commercialism and corporate greediness. Yes, it can be depressing if you're single. Yes, it's annoying to read everyone's mushy status updates on Facebook.

Me, I still have the same mentality about Valentine's Day as when I was a kid.

If there's a holiday where I get to eat a bunch of candy and chocolate, I'm all in.

Originally posted 2.15.12