Recently, Greenbrier East students were surveyed on how they feel about Valentine’s Day. 31 people responded to the 20-question survey posted in their grade-level Google Classroom.
Opinions
When asked how they felt about Valentine’s Day in general, only 16% of respondents reported disliking it, with the rest either liking or loving the holiday, and feelings about Valentine’s Day decorations ran along similar lines. Valentine-themed movies were different, however: the majority of students indicated they do not enjoy these romantic movies. Reactions were mixed regarding Valentine’s Day proposals, with 36% saying they are sweet. Social media posts were also termed “sweet” by the majority. Slightly fewer than half of respondents indicated that the holiday is for couples, leaving a strong percentage who believe it is for everyone.
Preferences
63% of those surveyed said they preferred a surprise Valentine’s Day as opposed to one that is planned, and 58% would rather stay in than go out. In fact, 19% said they enjoyed cooking a meal to celebrate, although far more respondents named giving or receiving gifts as their favorite activity. No respondents preferred jewelry as a gift, and were roughly split between receiving flowers, personalized gifts, and food. The preferred food was chocolate (74%), and the colors most associated with Valentine’s Day were red (63%) and pink (33%).
Behavior
26% of students surveyed said they do not celebrate Valentine’s Day at all. About half of those who do celebrate opt to spend the day with either family or friends, while the remainder prefer to celebrate with a partner. The reasons for celebrating included spending quality time with loved ones and showing love and appreciation. About a third of celebrants said they began planning for the holiday a week in advance. Almost the same number wait until a day or two prior, or even until the day itself. A surprising 13% plan the day a month in advance. For those students who go out to celebrate, most preferred a scenic outdoor spot, while a smaller number enjoyed going to a fancy restaurant.
