Halmark
Halmark
Let me start off by saying I would love to see a "male type" of Valentines a.k.a. BJ&Steak day. Put it up for a vote and I will vote for it. But here is why it will never work.
The only reason our society is so big on Valentines Day (from here on V-Day). Is commerialization and opportunity for retail outlets to sell goods during this period of time. The same goes for Mother's day, and to a certain extent Easter and Christmas. Hallmark could never sell a card for BJ&Steak day because no (ok maybe a few but not many) Man wants a card, roses, or teddy bear trinkets. The only business that would flourish is the porn industry and they still aren't mainstream enough to push such a radical idea into common culture (although they did well with DVD's but thats a different post).
So without major media and advertising dollars I think your idea (great as it is) will never flourish. Just take a look at the Marketing that goes into V-day. Count how many Jewerly commericals you see during the next TV show you watch. Closley followed by Hallmark, Chocalate, and Spa commericals V-day is only as popular as it is because of the Marketing.
Take this comparision: V-Day is based on the feast day of St. Valentine (which is based on a Pagan Holiday but that is yet another post). What about St. Patricks day why does it not get as much notice? Have you even heard of St. Basils day? Did you know that every day is the day of one saint or another? Why is Saint Valentine looked upon as so important?.....Advertising Dollars.
If the Saint thing doesn't sway you then compare the emphasis in Mother's and Father's day.
What causes this disparity? My Theroy is that Men (in general) are less materialistic than women. There are exceptions to every rule but in Mass-Marketing there are rules. It seems that those rules are that people can be swayed to buy things for women easier than they can be talked in to buying things for men. I don't know if this arcaic thought has lasted in our society since Men were the "breadwinners" and women were the "homemakers" but the differece is obvious.
Damn, sorry about the rant. Too much V-Day stress, I've gotta go buy my wife some flowers......
