Valentine's Day: The Facts
Valentine’s Day is primarily celebrated in The United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Mexico. February 14th was first declared a holiday in England by King Henry VIII in 1537. Over the years, Valentine’s Day has become known as the most romantic day of the year.
As retailers and specifically card manufacturers, florists, restaurateurs and jewelers have come to rely on the day as the next post Christmas shopping day, statistics that reflect behavioral patterns have been accumulated.
- Hallmark manufactures 1300 different cards specifically for Valentine’s Day.
- Teachers will receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives and finally sweethearts.
- The first American publisher of Valentine’s Day cards was Esther Howland of Worcester Mass. In the 1870’s. Primarily marketed to the wealthy, the cards featured elaborate lace and ranged in price from $5.00 to $35.00.
- More than one billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year.
- More than 110 million roses are sold on Valentine’s Day. A red rose highlighted by Baby’s Breath is known as a signature rose.
- Cupid is the most popular Valentine’s Day caricature. Cupid was the son of Venus and was believed to have shot arrows of love with his bow.
- Men purchase 73% of Valentine’s Day flowers. 15% of women send themselves flowers on February 14th.
- About 64% of American men do not make advance plans for Valentine’s Day.
- 3% of pet owners give a Valentine’s Day gift to their pet.
- The Italian City of Verona, home to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet receives approximately 1000 letters addresses simply to Juliet each year.
- The oldest known Valentine’s Day card was written by the imprisoned Charles, the Duke of Orleans, to his wife in 1415.
- The average American will spend $119.67 on Valentine’s Day. Men spend almost twice as much on Valentine’s Day as do women.
- More than one-third of men would prefer not to receive a gift while less than 20% of women feel the same way.
While there are many myths about the history of Valentine’s Day, one thing is certain. Those who receive a gift and forget to return the favor are in for a very chilly reception. Plan ahead and make this Valentine’s Day your warmest celebration yet.