Valentine's Day is the best day of the year - after Christmas

If I hear one more person whinge about how much they detest Valentine's Day, I think I'm actually going to scream.

"It's a Hallmark holiday," they say, " You don't need a) flowers b) a box of chocolates c) Dinner at a fancy restaurant to prove your love," they reason.

What's with this irrational loathing of the most romantic day of the year?

Here's the thing: I will shamelessly stand up and boldly admit that I am a lover of all things Valentines. I love the cheese, the clichés, the fanfare and I even love the fact that for 24 hours you can't move for the pink hearts, teddy bears and overzealous PDA moments.

But just like with Christmas, there are those miserable Scrooges that just love to play party pooper at every opportunity, in a bid to spoil it for the rest of us. You know the ones. From the 1st of February, there are out in full force with their invisible placards, claiming that they are determined to stick it to the evil corporations that are supposedly trying to force them to do something nice. The younger generation have been subjected to anti-Valentine's day merchandise and even anti-love memes have become fashionable.

God forbid if the rest of us mere mortals should actually indulge in the commercialism and treat our loved one to a £3.99 card from Clinton's come 14 February.

Even before I reached the appropriate age to enjoy the perks of having a crush, boyfriend or significant other, my earliest memories of V- Day were always pleasant. My mum would kick off the day by presenting my sisters and I with a card and some type of candy to remind us of how much we were loved. We were her Valentines. Her declaration of maternal, unconditional love was reason enough for me to count down the 364 days to the next.

You see, what people fail to apprehend is that whether you are married, in relationship or happily single, Valentine's Day is a celebration of love - ALL love. That includes family love, friendship and the most importantly self-love. I am yet to meet that sad individual that does not derive even a modicum of pleasure from being treated special.

Although I am married, if I wasn't, my Valentine's Day would involve Netflix, Chinese Singapore-style fried rice and the company of one of the many loves of my life.

I know the florists make a mint in the run up to Vals day and I know that Clinton's, Paperchase and every other otherwise vacant card-related store will be running a brisk trade come 13 February, but St Valentine didn't give up his life so people could commit sacrilege just to "stick it to the man".

Think about it. If it wasn't for Christmas and birthdays, how often would you dedicate a day to making your loved one smile?

In this world of overwhelming misery, where no news is considered good news, and Twitter trolls sit behind laptops spewing their venom, I welcome a day that celebrates love, and most importantly, reminds mankind to be nice to each other. Call me over sentimental or uncool, but I believe that the world desperately needs more of that. (Cue Beatles track here).

If you are unwilling to spend some cash or even entertain Valentine's Day, that's your prerogative. If you will not be swayed into celebrating a day dictated by the calendar, then more power to you.

But while you are protesting, please spare a thought for us romantics that like being reminded to say "I love you", making heart shaped sandwiches for our children or want another reason to dress up and eat somewhere fancy.

It's not your job to make us feel bad, so either join in or pipe down.