avatarKiki Wellington

Summary

The web content provides 15 intriguing facts about Valentine's Day, covering historical origins, economic impact, cultural traditions, and consumer behaviors related to the holiday.

Abstract

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is a significant cultural and economic event. The article reveals that Americans spend an average of $164.76 per person, with men spending more than women. It highlights the romantic inspiration drawn from historical figures like Juliet Capulet and Charles, Duke of Orleans. The holiday's commercial aspect is evident in the billion cards exchanged annually, with a notable spike in condom sales and pregnancy test purchases in March. The article also traces the origins of Sweethearts Candies and the tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards, which began with a love poem from the Tower of London. Additionally, it mentions the substantial spending on pets for Valentine's Day and the unexpected history of "Vinegar Valentines." The piece concludes with the recognition of Esther Howland as a pioneer in the commercialization of Valentine's Day cards in the U.S.

Opinions

  • The author suggests a humorous connection between Valentine's Day and the marketing of penicillin, both associated with love and syphilis treatment.
  • The article implies that Valentine's Day has a broader reach than just romantic partners, as evidenced by the significant number of cards sent to teachers and children.
  • There is an underlying appreciation for the holiday's ability to inspire a wide range of commercial activities, from traditional gifts like candy and flowers to more modern expressions like pet gifts.
  • The mention of "Vinegar Valentines" indicates a critical view of past societal norms, where sending insulting cards was an acceptable way to reject unwanted suitors.
  • The author seems to admire the entrepreneurial spirit of Esther Howland, who capitalized on the holiday's sentiment to create a successful business venture.

15 Interesting Valentine’s Day Facts

Because Cupid has been quite busy

Photo by doroshin on DepositPhotos

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and Cupid’s going to be working overtime shooting arrows through the hearts of people around the world — and these arrows are sure to inspire some interesting nights for a lot of people. But that isn’t the only interesting thing about Valentine’s Day that Cupid could talk about. Below are 15 facts about the love holiday that many people may not know.

Big Love, Big Business

It’s not surprising that Valentine’s Day is big business, but you may be surprised by how much people actually spend. On average, this year Americans will spend $164.76 per person on Valentine’s Day according to the National Retail Federation. Not surprisingly, men will spend more than women on the holiday: In fact, they plan to shell out over twice as much for gifts ($291.15 versus $106.22).

The Juliet Letters

Some people are so inspired by William Shakespeare’s most popular tale of romance* that they actually write to Juliet Capulet. And she gets a lot of mail on Valentine’s Day: On the holiday every year, Verona, Italy receives 1,000 letters addressed to the famous character.

Card Competition

By far, the most cards that are exchanged every year are bought for Christmas, but Valentine’s Day comes in second with a billion cards bought annually around the world. The majority of those cards are bought by women.

“I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.” — Charles, Duke of Orleans

VD!

For years, I have jokingly referred to Valentine’s Day as VD. Little did I know, I was actually on to something. It turns out penicillin, which is used to treat syphilis, was first put on the market on February 14, 1929.

Protection, Protection, Protection

Condom company Durex sees a 20 to 30 percent spike in sales around Valentine’s Day every year. But for those who choose not to buy protection for the holiday, they may spend that cash somewhere else because each year, the most pregnancy tests are bought in March.

The Cough of Love

What do Sweethearts Candies and sore throats have in common? Pharmacist Oliver Chase. The conversation candy hearts had a less than romantic beginning: In 1847, Chase created a machine designed to simplify the production of medical lozenges, which were made from sugar paste and medication. The lozenge machine was soon transformed into the country’s first candy making machine when Chase began making Necco wafers candies. Over the years, with the help of his brother, Chase made more changes and eventually created the heart-shaped candies with sweet messages that we know today.

Save the Date

Ever wondered why Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14? We have King Henry VIII to thank for that. In 1537, he declared that this is the date we would honor love. And of course, someone who has been through six marriages is certainly qualified to tell us all about love, right?

Photo by AntonMatyukha on DepositPhotos

For years, I have jokingly referred to Valentine’s Day as VD. Little did I know, I was actually on to something.

That’s Why They Call It Puppy Love

Humans are not the only ones to receive gifts for Valentine’s Day — fur babies also get to share the love! In fact, according to Finder, animal lovers will spend $2.14 billion on Valentine’s Day presents for their cats and dogs this year. Dogs will get the lion’s share of those gifts with an average of $31.24 being spent, while $27.42 is being spent on kitties.

Love and Lockup

The tradition of sending cards on Valentine’s Day began as a story of love and lockup: The first Valentine’s Day card was sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, who mailed a romantic poem to his wife during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine,” the 21-year-old declared in his missive.

Lessons in Love

If you think lovers are receiving the most Valentine’s Day cards, think again. The largest recipients of Valentine’s Day cards are actually teachers and children.

Some people are so inspired by William Shakespeare’s most popular tale of romance that they actually write to Juliet Capulet.

A Valentine’s Proposal

People want their marriage proposals to be romantic, and what is more romantic than proposing to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day? If you agree, you would be part of a very large club because up to six million couples are so inspired by Cupid’s arrow that they get engaged on his holiday.

Assortment of Love

A box of Valentine’s Day candy can be a feast for the taste buds, with an assortment of flavors to savor. But what are people’s favorites? According to the National Confectioners Association, the candies that people are most likely to look for in a box of Valentine’s Day candy are caramel, chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate filled, cream filled, and coconut.

The Vinegar Solution

The old saying tells us that we can catch more flies with honey than vinegar and with this in mind, people who sent what were known as “Vinegar Valentines” in the 19th and 20th centuries used these cards to repel potential suitors. In fact, these Valentine’s Day cards were laced with insults rather than sweet nothings, and given to those senders specifically wanted to push away from them.

A Hallmark of the Holiday

Greeting card giant Hallmark first started selling Valentine’s Day postcards in 1910. In 1915, the company moved into designing a line of greeting cards and by 1916, it began selling Valentine’s Day cards.

The Mother of All Valentines

Known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” Esther Howland was the first to commercialize Valentine’s Day cards in the United States in the 1840s. Her massed-produced cards earned Howland a fortune and by the 1850s, she was making $100,000 a year — or $3 million in today’s money.

*This article contains affiliate links.

More from Kiki Wellington:

Sources:

10 Weird Facts about Valentines Day. Pollen Nation. https://www.serenataflowers.com/pollennation/10-weird-facts-valentines-day/

14 Valentine’s Day Fun Facts. 1–800-Flowers.com. https://www.1800flowers.com/blog/flower-facts/valentines-day-fun-facts/

25 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Valentine’s Day. List25. https://list25.com/25-interesting-facts-valentines-day/

Andreano, C. and Shapiro, E. (2017, February 14). Valentine’s Day by the numbers: See how much money is spent on flowers, candy and cards. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/valentines-day-numbers-money-spent-flowers-candy-cards/story?id=45480956

Bologna, C. (2018, February 8). The Weird Backstory Behind Those Valentine’s Day Candy Hearts. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/history-of-conversation-hearts_n_5a72a8e1e4b06fa61b4d60ef

Chen, W. (2007, February 10). Weird Things You Didn’t Know About Valentine’s Day. Wise Bread. https://www.wisebread.com/weird-things-you-didnt-know-about-valentines-day

Choi, C. (2021, February 9). How much do Americans spend on their pets on Valentine’s Day? Finder. https://www.finder.com/how-much-do-americans-spend-on-their-pets-on-valentines-day

Confident consumers and broader buying lead to record Valentine’s Day spending plans. National Retail Federation. https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/confident-consumers-and-broader-buying-lead-record-valentines-day

Cracking the Chocolate Code. National Confectioners Association. https://alwaysatreat.com/candy-moments/valentines-day-central/cracking-the-chocolate-code/

Davis, K., Hanrahan, L., and Hurwitz, K. (2021, January 4). 31 Bits of Valentine’s Day Trivia You Probably Didn’t Know. Woman’s Day. https://www.womansday.com/relationships/a4702/10-fun-valentines-day-facts-103385/

Hawkins, A. and Jeon, H. (2021, February 2). 17 Fascinating Valentine’s Day Facts That Will Probably Surprise You. Good Housekeeping. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/a26863/valentines-day-facts/

Valentine’s Day. Hallmark Corporate Information. https://corporate.hallmark.com/holidays-occasions/valentines-day/

Valentine’s Day Data Center. National Retail Federation. https://nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/valentines-day/valentines-day-data-center

Valentine’s Day Facts. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/valentines-day-facts

Valentine’s Day Through the Years. Hallmark Corporate. https://corporate.hallmark.com/valentinesslideshow/

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