Holidays are commercialized because they are meaningful to people, and companies seek to offer a service that will help people to express and celebrate that meaning. They last despite this because they are and remain fundamentally meaningful on a deeper level. To have an annual celebration, whether religious or secular, that involves gathering your family, creating beautiful symbols, being cheerful, and exchanging gifts and goodwill, is something that goes beyond cynical commercialization and exploitation, and speaks to deeper desires in people
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I didn't call Valentine's Day a "hallmark holiday" I called it a "Hallmark-corrupted holiday". I certainly think that the celebration of love and intimacy is laudable, but not when the idea of love and intimacy is cheapened. I also don't think that commercializing a sentiment is cheapening; it might be impersonal, but it can still be heartfelt. My problem with the commercial presentation of Valentine's Day is that so much emphasis is put on physical displays of affection. I don't mind the idea of buying someone a bouquet of flowers, but to me that is not a meaningful display of romance. I would rather have someone show that they understand me and my likes. So, yes, give flowers for Valentine's day, but give flowers to a hospital in my name, or give the money that you were going to spend on flowers to a charity in my name. Help someone else. I don't need to get something or have something made for me to inspire romance. Understanding the recipient's personality is much more meaningful, in my oppinion
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I don't sense a tremendous emphasis on physical displays of affection. For me and my family, the celebration has never taken precedence over love
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I do agree with you overall, especially the point that the meaning of a holiday is dependent mostly on personal interpretation. I guess I still have to overcome some of my juvenial disregard of anything "commercialized
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