Bingowings said:

BTW I think Gaffer Tape meant prescribed more than forced, following a set regime of doing or giving things on specific days rather than spontaneously and when the opportunity arises ( please correct me if I'm in error there).

Basically, yes. "Forced" as in "large amount of social pressure to participate," not "do this or you'll be breaking a law or be completely shunned." There are a large number of people who take things like Valentine's Day as a matter of course. If you don't participate, you're a cad, or un-romantic, or cheap. So, for the most part, we capitulate in order to fit in. Good luck trying to get married without a large diamond on a finger-shaped band involved, despite the fact that it no longer serves any purpose.

But, no, Warb, I'm not necessarily trying to advocate abolishing holidays! I guess this is where bkev's "slippery slope (disguised as a red herring)" argument kicks in. Just because I'm applying criticism to something, you seem to think I'm lobbying to completely tear it down. That's simply not true.