The Valentine season comes every year with an awesome feeling and a lot of love butterflies from the hearts of lovers all over the world. This year’s valentine is expected to come with more enthusiasm especially with the world returning to its social life binge following the moderation of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
You’ve got to choose something to love and celebrate this time! A salivating treat is not a bad idea with high-end steak, lobsters, Ice-creams or splashy sushi, you can otherwise choose to spend the day celebrating your gal pals or cooking a romantic dinner with your partner. You might as well be appreciative of life despite the Covid 19 pandemic scourge.
Valentine's Day is all about love and life. But why do we celebrate February 14 with cards, flowers, and chocolates?
The history behind St’ Valentines Day
World’s most romantic holiday, Valentine’s day dates back to 269 A.D when a jailed Roman priest named Valentinus was ordered to be executed. He wrote a love letter to the woman who frequently visited him while he was imprisoned and signed the letter, "From your Valentine," and from then on it has been considered the very first Valentine's Day card in history. Valentinus died on February 14, 269 A.D., and several hundred years later Pope Gelasius declared his death date would be known as St. Valentine's Day.
Valentine’s day Stats:
Valentine is celebrated with pomp and pageantry all over the world, from the United States, Canada, Britain, Mexico, France and Australia to Russia and China with 6 separate days in a year of celebrating love, friendship and affection in remembrance of Val’s day. It is now customary to share flowers, chocolates, candy, and gifts on the holiday as well.
Valentine’s cards galore, Hallmark Cards has been producing Valentine cards since 1913 and records that in the US that there is always a massive exchange of Valentine’s cards worth over 145 million every February 14. Surprisingly, Teachers receive the most Valentine's day cards annually, followed by children, mothers and wives.
Most purchased gift items, Valentine’s day is always characterized by purchases of gift items for loved ones and friends, at the top of the purchase list as of 2020 according to the American National Retail Foundation (NRF) records, Jewelry leads the pack -$5.8 billion, followed by evening outings -$4.3 billion while the likes of candies, flowers, cards followed.
Pets are also not left out of the season with over 27.6 million American households spending up to $751.3 million on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day.
Retail sales volume, Valentine day ranks second after the Christmas season in terms of greetings card exchange. The American National Retail Foundation data revealed that Americans spent over $20 billion on Valentine's Day gifts in 2019 and a record-breaking pre-pandemic $27.4 billion in 2020. Valentine day’s average spend per person is approximately $196 with men spending around $291 compared to women spending $106. Statisca data shown below forecast a sales potential of $24 billion for 2022.
Valentine’s day will always remind the world of passion, love, affections and care for one another. Therefore, wind down this coming Monday, February 14, and show some love.
It is worth celebrating whether you are spending this February 14 with your sweetheart or friends or simply as an opportunity to eat tons of Valentine's Day chocolates and delicacies. Happy Valentine’s day.
