A recent survey of upper school students at WFS revealed varying opinions on Valen-
tine’s Day. Almost everyone ranked the holiday differently on a scale from one to ten.
When students were asked who they received the most valentines from, the results were
surprising. Despite Valentine’s Day being known as a holiday of romance, an overwhelming ma-
jority said they get valentines mostly from friends, then family members as a distant second, and
finally crushes or partners as dead last.
WFS celebrates Valentine’s Day with the an-
nual Random Acts of Kindness carnation sale. Upper
School students can purchase a flower in one of three
colors: red for love, pink for liking someone, and white
for friendship. RAK members deliver the carnations
during the advisory closest to Valentine’s Day.
Juli Buersmyer ‘28 points out this tradition
may also cause problems. “It may be awkward if you
send someone a pink flower or something, and they
send you a white one back.”
The way Valentine’s Day has been celebrated
at WFS has evolved over the years.
According to Terry Maguire, the head of the
school’s archives, upper school students used to meet
in the theater and walk around, handing out valentines
to each other. However, some people would end up
with lots, and others, with none. So, they made it a rule
that everyone had to get at least one Valentine. Even
still, the problem remained, and the whole Valentine
exchange was done away with. Today’s carnation tradi-
tion also can result in students ending up empty-hand-
ed.
Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday acknowl-
edged worldwide to celebrate love. But how did it
start?
According to History.com, one possible
origin of the holiday traces back to a man named Saint
Valentine, a priest in ancient Rome. According to leg-
end, Valentine helped Christians escape harsh Roman
prisons. Eventually, he was imprisoned himself and be-
friended his jailer’s daughter, who visited him during
his confinement. Before his execution, he wrote her a
letter and signed it, “From your Valentine,” a phrase
that continues to be used in Valentine’s Day messages
today.
Valentine’s Day is about all kinds of love, not
just romantic. Remember that you are still loved even
if you’re not in a romantic relationship.
