Anti-Valentine’s Week is the surprisingly positive celebration of love you’ve never heard of.

Most people celebrate Valentine’s Day with a bouquet of flowers, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, and, if they’re really lucky, a candlelit dinner. But for the singles of the world, Valentine’s Day can be a cruel reminder of everything they don’t yet have… or worse, of what they’ve lost.

From February 15 to 21, those in search of healthier relationship habits (and a good time) can celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Week. Each day is dedicated to a different expression of love. Don’t be fooled by the “anti” prefix. The holiday week isn’t necessarily meant to incite negativity, but to encourage self-worth, self-love, and independence among those with and without a partner.

It’s unclear how Anti-Valentine’s Week originated, but since it’s mainly discussed on Indian websites such as The Times of India, we can safely assume that most of us here in the U.S. haven’t had the pleasure of celebrating it – until now.

As Times of India noted, Anti-Valentine’s Week is as much a cathartic journey to self-love as it is a celebration of everything, good and bad, that comes with love. Celebrants can interpret each day’s theme in their own way. The point is for participants to end the week feeling stronger, happier, and more optimistic about love. And for some people, it’s also about reclaiming independence in the aftermath of a toxic, or even abusive, relationship.

The First Two Days Are About Reclaiming Independence

February 15, Slap Day, is not as violent as it sounds. It encourages singles and couples alike to metaphorically slap their toxic partner (or soon-to-be ex) for bad behavior. Or, as DNA India said, it’s about “slapping away bad memories and moving on from past mistakes.” If someone’s partner forgot all about Valentine’s Day and showed zero remorse for their carelessness, then they may deserve a metaphorical slap – and to be kicked to the curb.
Speaking of…

February 16 is Kick Day, and much like Slap Day, it’s all about forcing a toxic partner – or toxic people in general – out of one’s life for good. Finally “kicking them to the curb,” so to speak. It’s not so much about expressing anger as it is about making peace with the past, and embracing a healthier future.

The Third and Fourth Days Are About Self-Care

Self-love is the focus of February 17, Perfume Day. It’s for those who have ever felt less-than because of the way their ex-partner treated them. Instead of waiting for someone to give them a meaningful gift, participants can give themselves a meaningful gift. Buy that perfume, get that makeover, take a risk with that daring haircut. The day isn’t about celebrating romantic love, but an even more important kind of love: the kind one feels for themself.

On February 18, singles can giggle and bat their eyelashes to their heart’s content in honor of Flirt Day. Not only can they embrace the possibility of love, but they can feel the full power of their flirting skills. It’s a day for easy laughs and lighthearted connections. And according to The Times of India, it’s also the perfect time for singles to tell their crush how they feel.

The Last Three Days Are About Honesty

Anti-Valentine’s Week enters a more serious, but still celebratory, period on February 19. Confession Day gives people the opportunity to confess their true feelings to the object of their desires. It also encourages people in toxic or dead-end relationships to voice their problems. It’s a day that celebrates self-reflection, and the ability to confess one’s shortcomings to their partners. If someone has to apologize for bad behavior, there’s no better day to do it than on Confession Day.

February 20, Missing Day, is partly about honoring those we love who are no longer in our lives. It’s also about coming to terms with lost love, whether through divorce, separation, a regular breakup, or simply a missed connection. It’s a good day for singles to ask themselves, “Who do I wish was still in my life, and how can I express my true feelings?” Missing Day might lead to reunions, but more importantly, it helps people achieve closure.

Speaking of closure: February 21, the last day of Anti-Valentine’s Week, is Break-Up Day. Valentine’s Day is the ultimate test of a couple’s compatibility and thoughtfulness, and on February 21, those who failed the test just might feel the consequences. Breaking up with someone can be difficult, but if a breakup is necessary, doing it on Break-Up Day might make it a little easier.

Anti-Valentine’s Week gives singles and couples alike the opportunity to reflect on their relationships and make important decisions about their love lives. Instead of purely celebrating romantic love, Anti-Valentine’s Week emphasizes lost love, self-love, and most importantly, the love that may be waiting just around the corner.