Conversation hearts, candies with messages on them, are strongly associated with Valentine's Day in the United States. African American Valentine's school dance, Richmond, Virginia 1956. On the United States mainland, about 190 million Valentine's Day cards are sent each year, not including the hundreds of millions of cards school children Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts In the United States, Valentine’s Day gained popularity in the early 19th century. Esther A. Howland, known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” began producing and selling ornate, mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. Her designs featured lace, ribbons, and colorful illustrations, making them highly sought after. 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 The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s. Valentines commonly depict Cupid , the Roman god of love, along with hearts, traditionally the seat of emotion. Because it was thought that the avian mating season begins in mid-February, birds also became a symbol of the day. Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history. New strain in Calif. Get the USA TODAY app Start the day smarter ☀️ 🐍Year of the Snake The explosion of love continued in the 19th century with the creation of the first heart-shaped box of chocolates—a quintessential symbol of Valentine's Day—at the hands of Richard Cadbury. To make things even sweeter, the New England Confectionery Company (Necco) started to produce the earliest version of Conversation Hearts , which are The origins of Valentine's Day remain shrouded in mystery, though some theories have grown to be widely accepted. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the 1840s Valentine's Day Origins: From Pagan Rituals to Christian Feast. Long before Valentine’s Day became a symbol of romantic love, there was the Roman festival of Lupercalia. This pagan celebration, observed from February 13 to 15, involved the sacrifice of a goat and a dog, followed by a ritual in which young men, clad in the sacrificed animals In the 1840s, Valentine’s Day took off in the U.S. as increased paper production and printing presses lowered costs and increased the number of pre-printed cards that people could exchange that featured fancy lace, pictures, and other decorations. This tradition gradually evolved with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, which brought about the mass production of Valentine's Day cards. The commercialization of the holiday escalated in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Valentine’s Day in the USA: At school. Americans have celebrated Valentine’s Day since the 19th century. But the holiday became really popular in the 20th century, especially in schools. In the USA, Valentine’s Day is a big event at schools. In elementary school, kids exchange Valentine’s cards. The practice of gifting flowers—especially roses—on Valentine's Day started in the Victorian era, when flowers were used to communicate hidden meanings. Today, roses are still the top choice, symbolizing love and romance. Every year on Feb. 14, Americans celebrate Valentine's Day. The February holiday is set aside to let that special someone know how much they're cared about through gifts, flowers, greeting cards The Evolution of Valentine’s Day. On February 14th, the date synonymous with love, romance, and affection, we embark on a journey through time, tracing the rich tapestry of Valentine’s Day from its ancient roots to its modern-day incarnation. Each includes pre-measured ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and fun activities; delivered right to your door. Families, parents, and friends can enjoy spending less time worrying about mess and more time together in the baking experience. This Valentine’s Day, BaKIT Box is excited to offer their unique jam-filled Linzer Heart Cookie kit! 12. Booklets were created to help people write Valentines. If you needed help finding the right words to send to your loved ones in the 19th century, you could purchase a Valentine's Writer. Valentine's Day is for lovers — but you don't need a romantic soulmate to celebrate. The holiday is a chance to consider just how rich, diverse and beneficial every form of love is in the human Hallmark Cards (founded in 1907) sold Valentine’s Day gift cards in 1910; however, the decline in postcards’ popularity led them towards the creation of Valentine’s Day cards in 1913. Valentine is likely based on a combination of two Valentines who were executed on February 14 in different years by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century A.C.E., according to NPR. The Catholic Church might have established St. Valentine's Day to honor these two martyrs.
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