Celebrating Anti-Valentine's Day... Not (Updated for 2014)

Broken heart image found HERE

Apparently many people really do hate Valentine's Day and there is a large (and growing) subculture of anti-Valentine's people.    

The Christian Science Monitor captured the feel of the anti-Holiday in 2012:  

Fed up with the romantic industrial complex, oops, Valentine’s Day? Don’t want to be among the Americans who fork over $17.6 billion for everything from flowers to chocolates to, well, whatever else retailers can emblazon with hearts and seductive sayings?

Join the growing crowds of Valentine’s Day protesters. This contingent has its own guide, “The Anti-Valentine’s Handbook” by J. More, not to mention numerous websites, such as meish.org, that suggest how to spend the day. Tips include the ebulliently juvenile – think taking old photos of an ex and decking the person out with fake mustaches and the like. 

Or, compete online for the worst-nightmare date scenario. An early entry on Squidoo.com recounted a foray to a local petting zoo where not only was the writer jumped by a filthy-footed goat, but her date was spit on by an angry llama.

Anti-Love Songs 

Anti-Valentine's Day should be celebrated with such songs as "Love Stinks" or "You're No Good", according to the anti-Valentine's contingent.

I was really surprised when I found dozens of anti-Valentine's Day song lists after a quick Google! 

"Tainted Love" is mentioned, and another I didn't think of:  "Every Step You Take" by The Police.. It's a stalker song, as pointed out by Jeannie at hubpages.  Hmm... I missed that in the many thousands of times I heard that song, but, yep, it sure is:  "Every step you take I'll be watching you", and "You belong to me."

Now, to my mind, "anti-Valentine's Day songs" aren't about broken love but about cynicism about love.  The following lists, however, contain odes to broken love, crazy love, love gone bad, and other kinds of not-love. 

If you are looking for a few great anti-Valentine's Day songs, here are a few lists to start with, then add your own:

• Jeannie in a Bottle's hubpages Best Anti-Love Songs for Valentines Day 
• Ten Intense Songs; None of Which I have Heard of at Loudwire (includes "Die, Die My Darling" and "I know You are F#cking Someone Else")
• Readers choose their favorite un-love songs here at Line Out the Stranger.com.
• If you are a country fan, here's a list just for you at About.com Country music.

Some final thoughts..  

In a sense, Valentine’s Day is now governed by Henry Ford’s principle of mass production, as standardized cards, chocolates, and roses spew forth. However, here’s the rub: Even the anti-Valentine’s Day mood has been captured by the maw of commerce. Websites hawking merchandise with cynical slogans such as “love bites” “Happy Singles Awareness Day!” abound.

But before you get too cynical, stop here and ponder the "I Hate Valentine's Day" sentiment.  Maybe Valentine's Day isn't that bad after all.
 
Oh, and there are plenty of retailers (most online) who aren't part of the Mass Production of Love brigade.  You may have to dig around to find them.