When you think of Valentine’s Day, you might envision roses, chocolates, and pink and red hues. But what if you think of those things only because worldwide businesses and factories want you to?

Valentine’s Day used to be an ancient festival of Lupercalia, but the holiday has since been commercialized. Many industries are affected by Valentine’s Day, especially those that specialize in flowers, candy, jewelry, and greeting cards. In total, the spending of each of these items individually is around $1 billion. This holiday has become a capitalist venture based on consumerism.

“The flowers are usually the items that go up the most, and the roses, specifically the pink ones, are the first to go,” said Jayden Hupp, Kroger employee.

“I think it can be viewed as a capitalist holiday. There is a lot of money being spent not just on gifts like flowers and candy but also in the service industry. Restaurants, movie theaters, and other forms of entertainment benefit from the holiday. From an economic standpoint, one major positive impact is that it is good for local businesses,” said Mr Young, Economics teacher.

Whether or not you believe this is true, don’t let it stop you from having a great day and going out. Happy Valentine’s Day!