Once again, Valentine’s Day celebrations begin as February 14th creeps closer. Valentine’s Day gifts, chocolates and cards are not uncommon around this time, as students prepare to celebrate their loved ones. Some are looking forward to spending time with their own partners while others are looking forward to appreciating their friends on this day.
Reminiscing about past Valentine’s Days, students recall how they celebrated the holiday as children.
“When we were little, each student had to pass out candy to everyone. We don’t do that anymore. Now, it’s just people giving out Valentines to people they like,” said freshman Himaja Punna.
Even though the celebrations may not be the same as in elementary school, students still bring it upon themselves to find different ways to celebrate the holiday, whether it be with their friends or significant others.
“I’m going to make her a whole basket, like a little basket with chocolates, flowers and blankets and all that stuff. In the morning I’m going to get her breakfast and then later on I’m going to get her Dunkin’ too,” said senior Abdullah Khan when discussing his girlfriend.
Abdullah and his girlfriend have many plans for their Valentine’s celebrations, although this will be quite a surprise to his girlfriend. However, the two are not the only students celebrating this holiday this February.
“I do plan on giving chocolates out to my gals, my lovely friends who are going to be my Valentines, ” said sophomore Esther Kim.
Galentine’s, a recently emerging trend, has become a popular way of celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends. Students get together and spend time with each other for the day. Many prepare heart-shaped pizzas, bake cookies, put on face masks and watch movies. Galentine’s is a great way to celebrate this holiday with friends, with many looking forward to doing fun activities together.
Different clubs are joining in to spread love and celebrate the holiday. The Marriotts TedX Club is continuing its tradition of selling carnations for students to send to one another on Valentine’s Day. Even the Marriotts Ridge Spanish Honor Society (SHS) is providing students with the opportunity to send each other a handmade paper flower on Valentine’s Day. This yearly tradition, called “Una Flor Para Tu Amor,” is a way for SHS to publicize and for students to appreciate and send messages to one another on Valentine’s Day.
“We’re having the largest schoolwide flower-making operation. We have people sign up, and they can choose who they want to send the flowers to. One day during the third period we’ll have people delivering them. It’s a beautiful gesture, an act of camaraderie and love, ” junior and SHS board member Utkarsh Mandsaurwale explained.
Many are looking forward to the flowers that SHS prepares every year. Students are already planning who to send flowers to and are looking forward to receiving them from others as well.
“I’m going to get roses for all my friends, and I think we’re going to hang out. I’m looking forward to the fundraisers like the flowers and the bear sale,” claimed junior Priya Antes.
While Valentine’s Day might be different from how students celebrated as children many years ago, it is still a beloved tradition continued by students and clubs alike around Marriotts Ridge. As the holiday approaches, many engage in blissful preparations.