Valentine’s Day began as a cultural tradition honoring St. Valentine in Ancient Rome. Since then, it has evolved into a beautiful way to celebrate and show appreciation for our loved ones. Early February is truly a magical time in the year: the school halls are decorated and love is in the air.

The reason for love being in the air is simple; love is all around us. Sixty-two percent of adults celebrate Valentine’s Day in some way. Thanks to this holiday, the widespread celebration of affection and friendship makes the magical feeling of giving and receiving love a universal sensation. New romances are flourishing, steady romances are strengthened and friendships are celebrated. Love encompasses all with an estimated six million couples to get engaged this Valentine’s Day.

Feb. 14 is often used as a reason to show the people close to us a little bit of extra love. In fact, an estimated one billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged on this special day. It’s always nice to feel appreciated, especially during a holiday with a theme about showing other people they are loved.

Although some people feel the need to get dolled up and go somewhere fancy with their significant other, it’s not required. It’s totally cool to still go out and not spend a lot of money, or simply hang out at home for free. The money or location isn’t what’s important; it’s the person you choose to spend this time with.

And for the single pringles out there, we’ve got you covered, too. A trend stemming from the popular TV series Parks & Recreation, Palentine’s Day, is around specifically for people who don’t have significant others. Palentine’s Day takes place on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s. It provides a positive perspective on the holiday for those who don’t have that special someone to celebrate with.

Instead of wasting time worrying about not having a special someone to be with on Valentine’s Day, spend it with friends at a Palentine’s party or just hanging out together. Being with friends on Palentine’s Day is fun and makes for a great Instagram post.

Although there can be negative aspects of the traditions of Valentine’s Day, such as feeling pressured to go above and beyond or facing the potentially high costs, the positives outweigh those greatly. This holiday season, spread love and joy instead of bitterness.