7 Ways to Celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day can be a rough day for many singles. The emphasis on love and coupledom can be found everywhere from the aisles of Hallmark cards at Target, to the cheap chocolates lined up on an end cap at the local drugstore. Those who wish to escape this romantic holiday often feel trapped in a world where hearts and flowers dominate the day. The lovelorn, the spurned, the happily single, nobody can hide from Valentine's Day.

Unless, of course, you take action to celebrate in your own way, as an Anti-Valentine's Day. Anti-Valentine's Day celebrations are not new. As long as break-ups and heartbreaks happen, somebody will be partnerless on Valentine's Day. Even singles who truly want to be single can feel left out of the Valentine's Day hoopla.

Anti-Valentine's Day celebrations are meant to take the heart by the arrow and find your own way to have a good time, let out some love-weary angst, or to simply partake in Valentine's Day festivities without feeling left in Cupid's dust.

The seven ways to celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day are a summary of a few tried and true methods to survive the day of hearts and flowers.

Go Goth

You don't really have to go completely Goth for Anti-Valentine's Day, but wearing all black can send a strong message to all the red heart sweater wearers out there. Black clothing from head to toe can show that you are rebelling against Valentine's Day on your own terms.

If you can organize a group of friends to wear black with you to celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day, you can make an even stronger statement.

Create a Love Stinks CD

Spend some quality time with your i-Pod to celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day and create your own mix of anti-love songs. Download fun, rebellious songs to get you through the holiday.

Treat Yourself Like a Queen or King

If there are no flowers waiting at your doorstep on Valentine's Day, take it as a free pass to send yourself some gifts. Why worry about getting a box of cheap chocolates from a random date when you can indulge in some personal shopping as an Anti-Valentine's Day celebration.

Send flowers to yourself, or even to other single friends who may be celebrating Anti-Valentine's Day with you. Go shopping, buy something for yourself, and celebrate some self-love.

Throw an Anti-Valentine's Day Party

Anti-Valentine's Day parties are often big hits for singles. Gather a guest list of singles and ask them to bring single friends to celebrate. Decorate with black balloons, hearts with arrows through them, and ask guests to wear black. Play sappy love songs and laugh. Drown your sorrows with others who are in an Anti-Valentine's Day mood this year.

Write Anti-Love Letters

If you're still harboring some bitter feelings toward an ex who has done you wrong, take the time to put those feelings and thoughts to writing. Write letters to your past partners, and be sure to tally up every wrong that they did. Make a list of their bad qualities. Once you have written everything down as an Anti-Valentine's Day gesture, dive into the box of chocolates and shred the letters. Ripping the letters into tiny pieces can be very cathartic.

Have an Anti-Valentine's Day Movie Marathon

If you need a reminder as to why you are single, and others are coupled up, rent a few movies to defeat the myth of the happy couple. War of the Roses, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and other movies which offer another side of love are good choices. Avoid romantic movies. Invite a few friends over to share the laughs.

Have a Single's Night Out

There is no reason to stay home on Valentine's Day if you really want to have some Anti-Valentine's Day spirit. Gather your best single or love-weary friends together and enjoy a night out without the demands of couplehood. Check the local bars for special Anti-Valentine's Day events.

Dinner at an unromantic restaurant like T.G.I.F Friday's or Applebees will help you to avoid the couples who will be dishing out $100 on Valentine's Day for overpriced couple's packages at overrated restaurants.

Whatever you decide to do this year to celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day, cherish the memories, since you never know when Cupid may strike.