Here's hoping your loved one remembered that today is Valentine's Day and you've received your dozen roses, or chocolate-covered strawberries, or a gift certificate for a day at the spa. Maybe a cute and romantic card to go along with dinner and a movie.
Here in the USA it's estimated that about 55% Americans celebrate this sweetheart's day to the tune of spending almost TWENTY BILLION DOLLARS a year! Included in that figure is the cost of buying and sending about 145 million Valentine's day cards. As a retired member of the US Postal Service, I can vouch for the huge influx of pink and red envelopes flooding the mail service ever since Hallmark sold their first Valentine's Day card in 1913. And you'd think that sweethearts would be receiving the largest number of cards, but you'd be wrong. Teachers actually are the number one recipient.
I remember during grade school that it was a big deal to give and receive Valentine's cards from all the students in your class. Along with those disgusting (in my opinion, at least) hard heart candies with the little sayings on them.
But not only do Americans spend billions on each other for Valentine's Day - they also spend almost $650 million presenting HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY presents to their PETS!! While dogs are the pets receiving the largest number of gifts, the most money is spent on cats. Anyone who is the owner slave of cat is probably not surprised by that.
And what is your guess for the most popular gift for Valentine's Day? Not flowers, not chocolate - nope - it's jewelry. I guess that's what explains the fact that men tend to spend an average of a little over $300 on buying their love interest's gifts. I must confess that I've not witnessed this phenomenon myself!
And speaking of jewelry, Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days for the guys to get down on one knee and pop the question. Around 6 million couples get engaged on this day, proving it's definitely the day for romantic gestures.
According to History.com History's Oldest-Known Valentine was Written in Prison. It makes an interesting story, if you have a few minutes, hit the link and check it out. Not exactly the most romantic missive ever written but take into consideration that he'd already been imprisoned for 25 years when he wrote it:
My very gentle Valentine,
Since for me you were born too soon,
And I for you was born too late.
God forgives him who has estranged
Me from you for the whole year.
I am already sick of love,
My very gentle Valentine.
In conclusion, I hope you were mildly entertained by this short recap of some Valentine's Day facts and a
Very Happy Valentine's Day
to you all!
