Tuesday, 06 September 2011
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Hallmark Holidays
I had a crush in 5th grade that last for more than a year. He was as mean as he could be to get me to stop liking him. I tried to give him a cute Valentine’s Day card, which I heard he ripped up. That was pretty heartbreaking back then, as I’m sure it would be for me now. From age 10-13, I “boycotted” Valentine’s Day thanks to what happened.
At my Catholic school, we were able to donate $1 to the charity of my principal’s choosing during each holiday in exchange for not wearing our uniform that day. Every Valentine’s Day that rolled around, I always donated the $1 but wore my uniform.
My sixth grade teacher asked me why I chose to wear my uniform when everyone else took advantage of the few days we had to wear our regular clothes to school. I replied in an angsty pre-teen way, “I don’t believe in celebrating Hallmark Holidays. It’s just this money making scheme and I don’t want to support it. Besides, this is the Feast Day of Saint Valentine--why aren’t we celebrating his life?”
“Hallmark Holidays” was a term I first encountered through my older sister, who, for frugality’s sake, did not want to celebrate any holiday she felt Hallmark (and other card stores)capitalized on for sales: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, and of course, Valentine’s Day.
She only felt that Hallmark was appropriate for birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and funerals because those are personal dates for each person and are given equal shelf time throughout the year.
Growing up, she encouraged me to make my cards and personalized them with messages, regardless of the occasion. I came to believe that store-bought cards held almost no personal significance if there was nothing but a “Dear ______,” and “Love, ______” written into store-bought cards, so I always made an effort to whip out my creative side for special occasions.
If I did buy a store-bought card because I can’t draw for my life, I made sure to buy it blank or with a lot of room to write so I could compose a long message, filled with the specific things I appreciated about that person and recalling specific memories we had made together.
As I got older, I found nothing wrong with celebrating Valentine’s Day, though I never went out to buy anything from Hallmark or other similar stores. If I was dating someone, I’d hand-make a card for them or make another craft to give away. I always felt bad for my friends who were upset that they didn’t have a “mutual Valentine” for that day, and it’s possibly only a big deal because of the way places like Hallmark advertise weeks before the day. Sometimes I think it’s a totally unnecessary way to bring up a recent heartbreak or a tough time with the dating arena.
Do you consider any holidays to be “Hallmark Holidays”? Do you buy cards for your family, friends, and SOs at card stores like Hallmark? Do you find yourself writing long messages in cards?
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About the Author
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- From: dangelb
- About Me: My name means "daybreak" and I'm usually awake to watch the sunrise every morning. I'm a college student, obsessive tea drinker, and contemporary dancer. My first love was the piano before I learned how to love people. I love my R.O.B.--Really Outstanding Boyfriend--who gets just as excited as I do over antique books, soft-baked cookies, and Sporcle.
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Comments (11)
i actually love making the cards myself. it's adds a little bit of my "personal" touch to it. Even though it's probably uglier and not as amazing looking as the ones you would find at Target or whatever, my friends still LOVES my handmade ones more.
The only cards I buy these days are from this specific brand, I can't recall exactly which one, but each card contains a pair of green and pink bunnies as well as a voice box with their high pitch voices. As childish as they are...they are hilarious. Other than that I tend to bypass the card and just give some thoughtful or creative gift. For instance over this past summer I got my friend a small bracelet for her wrist that had two small silver pieces, each with something engraved upon them. The first was her name and the other, so it wasn't too personal, read as "Winning". The bag I presented this in read as "Happy Fucking Birthday". She also received a poster of Kim Kardashian in a bikini as well.
To answer your questions yes I consider all the holidays you listed above as Hallmark holidays. It doesn't mean I'm not going to celebrate them and I'll do so in my own way, not always with an excess of lavish or expensive gifts. Furthermore I'm still going to treat those people as special on the other "ordinary" days out of the year. As for any cards, I make them or buy the ones noted above and I try to write a personal anecdote or memory in there.
My bf and I both believe Valentine's Day is a scam. It's just a day for card, flower, candy, toy, and jewelry sellers to make bank. We just make it personal. If we exchange cards, they are homemade. And we don't go out - we stay in, make dinner together, and cuddle while watching a movie at home :)
Corny cards and gifts can actually be really sweet if they're when personal and given with a sense of humor.
I prefer to make gifts for any occasion, but Im not totally above using "outside help". I use sites like snapfish.com or cookies by design and that sort of thing. Im not a true crafts person-I cant draw or cut for shit. But I have my ways ; )
I don't think all or most holidays are brought to us by Hallmark. And when I observe or celebrate a holiday, it is as important or unimportant as I choose to make it. Every day is special to someone for some reason.
Many holidays are part of my cultural tradition, so I observe them. Valentines day is one of them. I grew up handing out corny printed cards and mini Milky Way bars. It was nice. I often give hand made Vday cards, but for V day or any other important day, if I find a printed card that is "perfect" I get it. I really don't think it's any less caring to go out and choose a great card for someone, and take advantage of the creativity of someone else.
I don't do Sweetest day or grandparents day because they seem pretty meaningless to me. They are not part of my heritage. I have holidays that I observe that are not part of the main culture, but they are very significant to me.
And actually I HATE long messages in any card, handmade or store bought. My eyes glaze over.
Keep it short and sweet, a line or two. Otherwise, and yes I follow this rule myself, write it in a letter. I like to put a card up on the wall board, or on my desk where I or others can read it, so I prefer just a couple lines.
@Guteman91 - Hoops and Yoyo?
My family was pretty constantly broke while I was growing up, so we always made our cards. I've never really thought of buying them, I just kinda make them out of habit.
I like store bought cards, they should definitely have a message in it. Or money. If there is nothing in there, what is the point?
valentine's day is indeed a day that is taken for advantage by Hallmark. Hell, there's even Christmas stuff up in Costco. Nevertheless, I can't help but smile warmly when I see the elderly couple walking hand in hand, with a bouqet of flowers on Valentine's day.
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@Guteman91 - Hoops & Yoyo! :)