When red and pink decorations envelop every store, candies show up in heart-shaped packages, and romance-related gift recommendations show up with every online search, everyone knows what holiday will be fast-approaching — Valentine’s Day. However, the anticipation has begun to fade into worry. How will anyone be able to celebrate the holiday that praises being together with quarantine keeping everyone apart? Not to worry, there can still be numerous ways to enjoy this renowned holiday for those who want to spend time with their loved ones, as well as those who simply want to use this day to hang out with friends.
Setting the controversy regarding whether or not Valentine’s Day should be seen as a genuine holiday or a scheme to get people to purchase too many flowers and chocolates aside, February 14th remains a widely celebrated holiday, as it sets aside one day a year where love can be the focus. That being said, just because people must stay indoors doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t find creative ways to spend time together. For example, one way to enjoy Valentine’s Day with a significant other would be to have a movie marathon date. Hosting a movie date without actually going to the movies may sound odd, but with the Netflix Party Chrome extension, it becomes easy to get cozy and watch some adorable romcoms or terrifying thrillers together. “Sometimes, the best thing you can do to celebrate your romance is to cuddle up and watch movies all day. Get ready for an epic binging session with your partner this Valentine’s Day, and make a watch list of your favorite movies” suggests Let’s Roam.
For those who don’t feel like watching movies on Valentine’s Day, why not go for a romantic dinner? Right, quarantine makes that part a bit more difficult. Still, difficult doesn’t necessarily mean impossible. Using FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet could make it quite possible to have a romantic dinner together, even through the internet. The age of technology makes it easier to communicate and spend time with those we love, so have a dinner date at home, make the perfect dinner and spend time talking and eating together through the screen. While it may not be the same as being there in person, it still allows laughter, conversation, and being together to happen with quarantine still in place. Certainly better than nothing. Plus, eating at home would be far less expensive than going to a fancy restaurant. If cost doesn’t prohibit going out, consider getting take-out from a local restaurant such as Namoli’s or Glory Days Grill.
Looking for another way to hang out on Valentine’s Day? One unique option could be to have a fun game night. Numerous fun games for couples to play together virtually can lead to either a night of teamwork and cooperation, or intense competitiveness which can certainly liven up any relationship. One of the most popular multiplayer games out now would be Among Us, a game filled with lies, tricks, accusations, and imposters. What better game to celebrate relationships and romance? Playing this game with friends can be a blast, so one can only imagine how much fun it would be playing with one’s partner. It could end with team ups and excellent detective work, or a headless partner in electrical. Only time will tell. For more traditional games, it may be worthwhile to look into Pogo. Pogo remains home to numerous classic games which can be played online, including Scrabble, Hearts, Dominoes, Risk, Yahtzee Party, Chess, Battleship, and more.
Celebrating the most people-oriented holiday of the year alone may sound a bit depressing, and with quarantine keeping people indoors, no one can even go on a regular outing. Still, those without a significant other don’t need to be alone this Valentine’s Day. The last year, as everyone knows, has been extremely bizarre and plan-altering from the very beginning, and it doesn’t look like 2021 has strayed too far from the new normal quite yet. Since the circumstances regarding how holidays should be spent have had to change accordingly, Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be any different. Instead of staying cooped up alone, it might be far more fun to spend the day with friends or family members as well as partners, playing games, laughing, and just having fun together. After all, if Christmas and Thanksgiving had to change due to quarantine, perhaps Valentine’s Day should too.
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