Things I don't understand - Valentiner's Day

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

Someone on a food community I read posted a link to these anatomical heart cupcakes asking whether we thought they'd be suitable for her four year old son to take to school for Valentine's day.

Now, they are utterly awesome, and a quick glance at the ingredients reveals no nuts or peanuts, so I'd think they'd be OK for school, which is how I answered, but...

why would a four year old be taking cakes to school *for Valentine's day*? Why would anyone? We used to (at secondary school) have a board for posting anonymous comments. Apparently I even got one, one year, but I didn'#t have time to go and look until they were all taken down. That is, you post a comment for *one* person, or a small number of people you're interested in romantically or sexually.

The whole class? That would be weird. Four year olds? Also kind of icky.

Any explanations, gratefully received.

Comments

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

OK, I think I mostly got that. I just don't understand why/where that idea came from. Do you know?

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure, but it's not a very new thing. the platonic valentines thing was in an (American) activity book I had when I was, umm, 6 or 7? 1980 or so, anyway.

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

It's definitely not *just* a US thing, though, even if it is more predominantly so. My brother and I were getting Valentine's cards and little presents from my grandparents back in the '70s in the UK, so our family at least had a tradition of the date being one for showing love in general, not only romantic love. Personally I rather like that idea.

[ruhe.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell, it's been like that a long time (like at least 20-25 years)--I think my mom has even mentioned that she remembers similiar (but making her own cards).

I guess I always thought of it more as a schoolkids holiday--which I guess is as odd as the idea that V-day is only romantic. Either way, I'd rather ignore it this year. :S