Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day has grown into one of the largest commercial holidays, with people everywhere shopping online and in person for the perfect gift for that special someone. No, Valentine’s Day didn’t start as a marketing ploy. Valentine’s Day has a well-deserved reputation for being excessively commercial; in 2016, the National Retail Federation estimated that people in the U.S. would spend $19.7 billion on the Is Valentine's Day a commercial holiday? How the day of romance increased consumer spending National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $25.8 billion on Valentine's Day in The history and origins of Valentine's Day may be murky, but one aspect is clear: its path from handmade love letters to commercialization. Valentine’s Day has become increasingly commercialized over the years as businesses have seized the opportunity to market products and services related to the holiday. The impact that Valentine’s Day has on the economy is incredibly permeating. In 2019, more than $20.7 billion was spent. 2. Dining Out: The Premium You Pay For Romance. Dining out on Valentine’s Day may be a mistake. Restaurants capitalize with exclusive prix-fixe menus that often come with a hefty markup. Since 2000 and the rise of the internet, more and more people celebrate Valentine’s Day digitally with e-cards, with around 15 million e-Valentine’s Day cards sent in 2010. While it has its roots in Christianity, Valentine’s Day is considered a ‘Hallmark holiday’ by many people today because of its commercialisation, and the focus on The origins of Valentine's Day may be murky, but one aspect is clear: its path from handmade love letters to commercialization. Recent Valentine’s Day History. Overall, the anticipated rate of celebrating Valentine’s Day has decreased by .37 percentage points per year over the last 13 years, as shown in Figure 1, with an overall average of 54.5%. The current year, 2025, has a slight increase from 2024. Figure 1: Celebrating Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day Planning Consumers will spend a record $27.5 billion on Valentine's Day this year, up from $25.8 billion in 2024 and over the previous record of $27.4 billion set in 2020, according to an annual survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. In this article, we take a look at the various historical and cultural influences that have shaped Valentine’s Day. From the mysterious figure of Saint Valentine and the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia to the medieval traditions of courtly love and the commercialization of the holiday in the modern era, we explore how February 14th became the day to celebrate love. The Pagan Roots of Valentine’s Day: The Festival of Lupercalia. The Valentine’s Day origin can be traced back to ancient Roman celebrations, specifically the Festival of Lupercalia. This festival, which took place from February 13 to 15, was primarily a celebration of fertility and purification. Most of the holidays that are seen as over-commercialized are those rooted in religion, like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day. Many devoutly religious people criticize the fact that these days have come to be celebrated with store bought decorations or modern traditions like flashy gift giving and trading expensive cards. How did Valentine's Day become commercialized? These days, Valentine's Day – celebrated in not just the United States, but Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia – is a The over commercialized Valentine’s Day Monali Dam @ Penpusher Feb 13, 2022, 15:51 IST There was a time when Valentine’s Day meant a lot to lovers across the world. Laugh with 110 funny Valentine's Day jokes! Clever puns, witty one-liners, and humorous quips for kids and adults. Spread love and laughter this Feb 14th. Valentine’s Day gifting trends 2025: Consumer spending is shifting towards personalised, experience-driven, and sustainable gifts. Discover key trends and how brands are adapting. Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, [1] is celebrated annually on February 14. [2] It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine , and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in How did Valentine's Day become commercialized? These days, Valentine's Day – celebrated in not just the United States, but Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia – is a The origins of Valentine’s Day are pretty obscure. While scholars generally agree that the holiday was popularized in the 1840s in the U.K. and U.S., the specific historical roots of the
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