Technolandy

Day 101 (of 2024/25) whew – a holiday anchoring systemic discrimination is on a pro-d day!

Just pointing out that the stores and schools are currently pushing yet another anchor to one religion above all others… St Valentines Day. A day/event/quasi-holiday where we push the importance of relationships of a romantic type (but not an aromantic type <— see what I did there?!?)

St Valentines Day; St Patricks Day; Easter are the big mono-religious observations that remain connected to our North American school calendar. And I know there are many who like to point out the ‘fun’ that many have… trading valentine cards… creating leprechaun traps… hiding candy eggs… but we do need to do an equity scan from time to to time and note what these observations say… especially at a time when there are more out loud pronouncements in neighbouring education systems trying to get more of one religions observations being done by all learners. 

I know a few friends who try not to observe valentines day – and have observed as a ‘made up holiday for card companies’ that has spilled over to make chocolates, flowers, and restaurants very expensive for a couple of specific days… but there is also a lot of cultural pressure to observe this as a day for romance… which further puts pressure on those without a romantic connection – and even moreso on those who don’t want a romantic connection. 

As for me, of course I am a walking hypocrite with some themed ties – that I do try to connect with Pink Shirt Day and the observation that this is a day for friendship with, and fighting bullying of, trans and homosexual peoples. Originally a feast day, can/ought it be more of a commercial event and have religious undertones removed – much as a rethink of christmas may enable? It was Chaucer who helped make the date the time when birds chose their mates – and this led to more romantic messaging taking place (including the mass produced cards – that started in the 1700s. 

It does have a global spread, but again there are two key components to be mindful of:

1. It is a way that a religious observance is able to hide in plain sight. 
2. It also embeds the pressure of finding love – while adding confusion to who you ‘ought’ to love.

It may be stated that it is a ‘secular day of romance’ but how often does it collide with food… or a feast… from a class party to a dinner for two. And whenever romance is brought up… well, on friday I shared my thoughts on the book GenderQueer which makes some very uncomfortable with the different ways people fall in love. 

And at a time where some romantic attachments are being challenged: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/02/01/gay-marriage-republicans-supreme-court/78059166007/ it is  2slgbtqia+ being targeted, but the laws are the same for inter-racial couples as well… as much as people want to promote love, there is a lot of hate over who people may be attracted to and fall in love with…

Schools don’t (typically) make it easier either. Even with the store bought cards, there is pressure over which one to attach each name to… a secret code that the recipient may not be aware of that lets the giver know they have sent a message… check out Charlie Browns Valentines Day for a deeper look at the elementary experience – and at secondary schools where the romance pressure is even greater, candygrams and flowers etc just add the pressure…

Just a reminder to be reflective – especially on holy-days… oops… holidays…😇