Valentine’s Day is often synonymous with roses, chocolates, and heart-shaped cards, but for Gen Zs, the day holds a mix of tradition and modern twists. While some are sticking to the classic gestures, others are forging their own path, blending old customs with fresh, personal celebrations.

In this article, republicasia delves into how Gen Z is balancing tradition with new ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day, and what the day truly means to them.

How Gen Z want to celebrate Valentine’s 

Unlike in rom-coms and chick flicks, Gen Zs are not really into grand gestures and big celebrations. Most of them (introverts, am I right?) would love nothing more than a quiet and intimate appreciation of love. 

For Chaelly Balitactac, 23, having someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day is enough. Chaelly described herself as someone who is neither romantic nor chill— she’s just somewhere in between. 

“If I have someone to celebrate it with then I do, not necessarily limited to lovers either,” she said. 

“My romantic gestures tend to be more subtle. I make time for them, I support and engage in their hobbies, etc.”

Laid-back gatherings are more up her alley. 

“I think low-key celebrations are enough for me, I’m more of a quality time sort of person so as long as I get to spend time with the people I love then I’m happy,” she said. 

On the other hand, the 24-year old Aedref Mendoza is a self-proclaimed romantic. This is why he prefers to stick with some of the Valentine’s traditions. 

“When it comes to relationships, I know to myself that I have a clingy personality.I like to do some common ways of expressing your love like giving letters and gifts on every occasion,” he said.

With Aedref’s strong belief in romance, it’s clear he’ll be celebrating Valentine’s with his loved one—specifically, his girlfriend. He’s not averse to the idea of a classic date, where he picks up his girlfriend for a romantic dinner out.

But aside from this, he also loved organizing picnics and other activities to cherish his moments with his girlfriend. 

“I actually do not prefer grand gestures when it comes to Valentine’s day but maybe I prefer unique or different ways to celebrate it such as Picnic, nature trip and museum date,” said Aedref. 

Gen Z gifts for Valentine’s 

It seems that for many Gen Zs, the gift itself is not really a big deal. What they truly appreciate is the thoughts and the efforts put into it. 

Such is the case for the 20-year old Cyan Bernal. 

“I’m really not particular when it comes to receiving gifts. For me, the mere effort and thought of going out to buy a gift with someone in mind is more than enough, so I don’t really mind if it’s something ‘traditional’,” she said. 

Cyan values the thought and effort behind choosing a gift. She appreciates it even more when the gift reflects her hobbies and the things she loves.

“That being said, I do appreciate it slightly more if gifts have something to do with the games I like to play or series I enjoy. There’s something really sweet about knowing someone well enough to pick up on the things they love,” said Cyan. 

Meanwhile, while Gelly Peralta, 22, appreciates the gifts, she also has a more practical view of the matter. 

“Kung ako ang reregaluhan, ayaw ko ng material things, mas okay sa akin if pera na lang,” she said with a hint of humor. 

Gelly, an accounts manager, attributes this perspective to the busy life of the adulting stage. She said that although she used to celebrate Valentine’s, other things are on the top of her priority right now. 

“Personally, I really prefer skipping it, kasi puwede naman araw-araw maging valentine’s day. If you’ll just show and express your love to others every day, it will always be Valentine’s.”

Love in the spotlight or in the shadows?

In the age of social media, it is not surprising that many Gen Zs put their relationships on the spotlight. Uploading pictures of their partners with long captions proclaiming their love could be one of the ways to celebrate their relationship. 

“I prefer to make my goals or plan on Valentine’s day to keep between me and my partner but I’ll definitely greet her on my Instagram stories like everybody else,” said Aedref. 

But the others were not so keen with exposing their relationship on social media. 

Chaelly, an introvert through and through, prefers to stay away from it. 

“I still prefer to keep things private, social media does form some sort of envy sometimes but at the end of the day, I want to keep the things close to me only to me,” she said. 

Cyan feels the same way. 

“I’m a pretty private person, so I don’t post much in general. I’m grateful that my partner’s of the same opinion, so we keep most things to ourselves save for telling some of our closest friends about it. I feel like it also makes our plans feel a little more intimate and meaningful since we’re not doing it for the sake of sharing it on social media or anything like that.”

Gen Z’s Fresh Take on Valentine’s

All the Gen Z interviewees have various suggestions of how to enjoy Valentine’s in a fresh perspective. 

For Aedref and Gelly, one should involve and enjoy nature more. For the latter, hiking is a good option for a Valentine’s date, especially for those who thrive in the outdoors. 

“I think hiking, kasi mayroong iba na mas preferred na umakyat na lang ng bundok with their dearest one kesa kumain sa isang fine dining restaurant. People nowadays kasi mas gusto ang peace of mind over anything else e, and napapansin ko na mas prefer din ng Gen Z na umakyat ng bundok kesa kumain sa labas,” said Gelly. 

Aedref, who lives in Laguna, a province known for its forests, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, suggests ecotourism—a form of responsible travel to natural areas that aims to conserve the environment and support the well-being of local communities.

“The best way I guess to celebrate Heart’s day is to go to a place where you can both enjoy and unwind together. Trying ecotourism is the best example for this,” he said. 

If you’re not an outdoor enthusiast, then there are also ways to enjoy Valentine’s within your comfort zone. This is what Cyan and Chaelly enjoy the most. 

“I think online/virtual dates have been more prevalent recently, especially for those in long distance relationships which tends to be more common now due to social media. Some of my friends too have their own way of celebrating it too, like these friends of mine who are singers tend to publish a duet cover of a song every year around Valentine’s,” said Chaelly. 

For Cyan, sharing and enjoying a hobby with your partner is a great way to bond.

“I really like the idea of doing creative DIY plans—pottery, painting, etc.—even if it’s at home and you’re both just doing arts and crafts. Other than being a really cute activity to do together, you get a good memento to bring home plus the memory of making it,” she said. 

Valentine’s Day

No matter how you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day—whether with grand gestures, simple moments, or something unconventional—what truly matters is the time and connection shared with the one you love. It’s not about the extravagance or tradition, but about creating memories together and cherishing the bond that makes the day meaningful.