Happy Valentines Day 2019!

Valentine’s Day 2019 is upon us, and the Day of Love has a long history that makes it more than just another “greeting card holiday.”

The most popular theory about how Valentine’s Day began happened during the time of the Romans.  Emperor Claudius the II didn’t want his men to marry during times of war, and St. Valentine, then a Bishop, went against his orders and performed secret wedding ceremonies.  He would be jailed and executed for this, earning his Sainthood in the Catholic Church, and forever making his mark on history.  While he was in jail awaiting his execution, the Bishop wrote a love note to the jailer’s daughter and signed it “From Your Valentine,” and the centuries old tradition began.  The tradition now boasts over 1 billion cards exchanged every year.

St. Valentine’s Day was declared a holiday to be observed on February 14 in 1537 by England’s King Henry VII. In the 479 years since, the holiday has grown to be the celebrations of love we know today.

The first box of chocolate specifically designed to be sold as a Valentine’s day gift was produced by Cadburry’s in the late 1800’s.  Now, more than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold, along with other chocolaty gifts, adding up to over $1 Billion in chocolate sales alone.  189 million stems of roses are sold just in the U.S., most of which are red, which is believed to show strong feelings of love.  There are approximately 220,000 proposals on this day, also.

So, as you are celebrating this Valentine’s Day, remember the long traditions, and create some traditions of your own.