10 Reasons to Hold an Anti-Valentine's Day Party

Since when have you and your friends needed an excuse to party? Make it an Anti-Valentine's Day party if you will, but it boils down to the fact that you're all getting together to do what you do best - having fun!

You know who to invite to make it a good night. Then just add music, alcohol, games and whatever else rocks your boat. Then party on.

In the run up to February 14th, you're going to have to run the gauntlet of well-meaning family and friends asking if you have somewhere to go on St Valentine's Day.

It's all a thinly veiled attempt to find out if you're dating (for cooing or trolling purposes, depending upon who's asking), but the result is the same.

Whenever you answer, 'No, just having a quiet one in', you'll see pity glaze their eyes. They're thinking you're a failure, and already planning the match-making with someone utterly unsuitable.

(For maximum wide-eyed shock, inquire as to who your parents consider a great partner for you. I know that the answer made me extremely glad there are no arranged marriages in my family.)

So throw a party! Next time someone asks, you can reply in all good faith that you have plans, and they're fabulous! Not only that, but you provide the same potential shield of plan secured with every invitation issued.

When you think about it, February is the perfect time for a party.  Everyone's just been paid after the financial ruin of Christmas, and they've finally recovered from all the excess partying and feasting of the period.

Time to do it all again!  For some of you, this will be the first opportunity to get together and discuss who got off with whom at the Christmas office do.  Worth it just for that, and almost Valentine's Day in its central theme of copping off.

February 14th is all about expressing your love, but only within very narrow, easily monetized confines. Where's the love for your parents, your friends, your kids, your pet rabbit and every other icon of your great, big heart?

I know. They're at your party.  Here the love is shared around in hugs, kisses and pats on the back, free-flowing alcohol and dancing.  (Or you and your clan taking it in turns to own each other via the XBox.)  No-one gets excluded from knowing how much you love each and every one of them.

As for the significant other, he/she is there too.  No-one said this Anti-Valentine's Day party was anti-love.  Quite the opposite in fact.

Inviting your date to your Anti-Valentine's party is surely preferable to squeezing into an over-crowded restaurant, which just hiked its prices in regard to the festival.  You can take them there next week, if you choose, when you can pick your seat and take advantage of the special deals.

But for February 14th, you and your lover are partying away, having hours of fun with all of your circle.  Two celebrations for the avoiding of one!

You will undoubtedly be laying on a welcome bolt-hole for your anti-Valentine's Day friends, but also a safe, fun place for those who really wanted the romantic stuff too.

Think of those friends who just broke up with their partner, or who desperately wanted someone to ask them out. Now imagine those same friends sitting alone in their homes on February 14th. 

They're going to end up sobbing over the phone to you all night long anyway, or else calling you from the police station to provide bail, because they've just hunted down the ex and done something silly. You might as well distract them with a party.  Call it preventative action and self-preservation too.

Nothing says, 'I don't care about the ins and outs of your relationship', than presenting the offending party with an invitation to your Anti-Valentine's Day shindig. 

They won't come, because they have socially acceptable plans to line the pockets of the Romance Industry on February 14th.  But will peg you as the person who held that party, and therefore probably not interested in hearing about how squeeee their wubbly wabbit was to them.

It would be kinder than falling asleep mid-conversation anyway.

No matter how often you sing 'Can't Buy Me Love', it still seems that the majority of people don't realize that their romantic inclinations are being plundered for profit by businesses.  All of those companies peddling flowers, chocolates and cards are having a field day, not to mention the theaters and restaurants.

Throwing an Anti-Valentine's Day party certainly opens up an avenue for dialogue, generally entered by the inviting exclamation, 'Oh! No! Why would you do such a thing?!'

Your party doesn't have to be the all singing, all dancing gala that we've hitherto envisaged. It could be a group of friends gathering to take the internet by storm with topical protest notices. 

Spend the evening being mutually inspired in creative entries to Occupy Valentine's Day, or get into long discussions about the nature of modern society.

Admit you. You'd enjoy it.

Once again, we're not anti-love nor even anti-romance here, just being told when and where to express those human sentiments in society.

There is no place better on Earth to find equally aware and unattached people than at an Anti-Valentine's Day party.  Particularly if couples are banned (and generally have other plans on February 14th anyway). It's a clearer hunting ground than a nightclub, which is dastardly strewn with people who are already in committed relationships.

Vent your frustration about the Romance Industry, and the pressure to pair up, over a couple of jars with an attractive person.  Or find someone on the rebound. Then spend the rest of the night snogging them in a corner.