Love’s Evolution: Valentine’s Day Through Time

Redwood students reminisce on their past experiences of Valentine’s Day, highlighting the transformation of the holiday.

By: Olivia Gonzalez

Valentine’s is celebrated throughout many communities and celebrated in many different ways. Students here at Redwood experienced Valentines in various ways in their childhood and now in their teenage years.

Valentine’s Day changes drastically from what is out that year to what is in. Valentine was a big deal in the school atmosphere as children, and now it is but in different aspects.

In elementary school, Valentine’s Day was filled with handing out candy and racing the night before to find the perfect cards to hand out as well. Alfredo Esquivel, ‘24, says, “Valentine’s was a super fun day, everyone was super excited to hand out candies to each other and everyone would just love each other.”

Trent Freeborn, ‘25, says, “Valentine’s Day as a kid was awesome because we would always get a bunch of free candy from kids at school. I would bring back the free chocolate.” For many Valentine’s was a day to be loved and give love but as kids, the best part was the goodies that were received.

Although what is received on the holiday is one of the most anticipated aspects, your Valentine is even more anticipated. For many students, family members and friends were the special people known as valentines.

Addi Beal, ‘25, says, “I never had a Valentine when I was younger but my mom would always buy me little gifts.”

Esquivel says, “My mom would always, usually every Valentine she would get me something like a basket, she always made sure we got something.” It is those who show up for you during a holiday full of love that mean the most.

Taking a twist on the holiday many students feel like the excitement has changed for the better or for the worse. Lainey Rowe ‘26 says, “I feel like Valentine’s Day is a way bigger deal now than it was when I was younger.”

“Now Valentine’s Day is very instilled in relationships before it used to be just a whole thing. It’s like you have to be dating somebody to have a Valentine but no you don’t,” says Esquivel.

Valentine’s Day could mean different things to different people including Galentines. Galentines is spending time with friends and celebrating the love you guys have for one another. Beal says, “It used to be about getting candy and gifts and now it’s about getting to be with friends and the people I love the most.”

For a lot of students in high school, there is simply just no thought about Valentine’s Day in mind. It is yet just another day. Nate Ramirez, ‘26, “It’s baseball season so right now I’m just playing, there’s no anticipation for Valentines this year.”

Olivia Gonzalez

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Olivia Gonzalez '24 is a third year writer for the Redwood Gigantea. She is interested in looking deeper into the lives of students at Redwood. Outside of Gigantea, she is apart of the Law and Justice academy and CSF here at Redwood Highschool. You can reach her by email at olivi.go4371@vusd.us