Valentine's Day- Romantic or not?

I think we are all generally in agreement that Valentine's Day is really a commercial product, even though the day originated as a pagan festival and the romance angle started in the High Middle Ages. Valentine's Day is the second most popular time for sending greeting cards, after Christmas Day. But I really feel that Valentine's Day is really not a very romantic occasion. 

Romance, at least effective romance, is all about individuality, spontaneity, privacy, originality, and surprise. One need not look beyond the surprise marriage proposal when (usually) the man elaborately sets up a surprise situation to pop the question. You have to inhuman not get a little choked up when you see such a proposal. Can you imagine if there was an annual Proposal Day and everyone waited until that day to propose marriage? What fun would that be?

It's the same with Valentine's Day. Why should we all wait until the same day to buy flowers, give chocolates, have a romantic dinner and express our love? What's wrong with doing that on July 6 or November 17 or May 29? By waiting to do it on February 14 each year, our partner knows it is coming and the surprise and romance are lost. Or diminished in the best of cases. And if you forget or do it haphazardly, trouble is doubled. At the very least, we are reduced to competing with everyone else for chocolates and flowers and restaurant reservations on the same day. What isn't romantic is sitting in a restaurant with fifty other couples celebrating the same thing. It's a surprise dinner in a private corner in a small Italian restaurant where you've planned a special menu in advance with the chef. Romance is feeling the entire moment revolves around her. 

Sure, maybe we need a day at least once a year for romance but I think it needs to be more often. Roses grow all year, restaurants are open every night, chocolates are everywhere. We could all use a little more romance a little more often in our lives. 

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea 
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.

Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart, 
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart, --
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

- by Stephen Foster