DeKALB | Like it or not, Wednesday is Valentine’s Day, with students either ignoring the supposedly conjured holiday or scrambling to buy chocolate and roses for loved ones.

According to the History Channel’s Web site,, Valentine’s Day is based on Saint Valentine who, in 270 A.D., wrote a letter in prison to a girl he was in love with. He ended the letter with “From your Valentine,” which is a phrase that is still used today. Each year, more than a billion valentine cards are sent, making it the second largest card-sending holiday.

While this holiday brings joy to some people, others are filled with stress and have no anticipation of its arrival.

“Valentine’s Day is nothing more than a Hallmark holiday to me,” said Katie Richter, a junior psychology major. “It’s a pointless holiday like Sweetest Day that’s just like any other day.”

Jackie Fischer, a junior music education major, agreed with Richter.

“It’s a made-up holiday where people say they care about each other, and was created to sell cards,” Fischer said.

Others remained neutral and saw the day as neither good nor bad.

“It’s a day that people give each other boxes of little heart-shaped sweet tarts,” said John Shepley, a sophomore business major. “If people have somebody, they should spend the day with that person; if not, they should go about their daily routine.”