Valentines Day Traditions

Most Valentines Day traditions feature ideas of love, friendship and romance. Valentines Day, February 14th, is one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. Millions of Valentines cards are exchanged. Red roses and candy delivery are at an all-time high during this holiday, and engagements for marriage are often schemed.

• Valentines Day History
• Love Poems for Valentines Day
• Printable Gifts

Top Ten Valentines Day Traditions

1. Valentines Greeting Cards are the most commonly observed tradition for Valentine's Day. Though the tradition started in the 1400s, Valentine cards were not commercially produced until the mid-1800s. It's estimated that over a billion cards are given worldwide during the holiday. According to the Hallmark card company, over 140 million of their cards are exchanged each year. That doesn't count cards from other companies, handmade cards, printed cards or boxed cards that children exchange. That's a lot of greeting cards!
2. Children have Valentines Day parties. Many are school parties, but church parties and home parties are popular too. Children often decorate shoeboxes with Valentine decor and create an opening in the top to mimic a mailbox. Then, all of the children at the party exchange friendly Valentine cards.
3. Roses and other flowers are given. The demand for red roses skyrockets resulting in price inflation during the month of February. Pink roses are a second favorite. Valentines Day accounts for of 30% of annual sales for the floral industry.
4. Chocolates, long thought to be associated with romance, are a very popular gift. Some come in heart shaped boxes. The boxes may have elaborate decoration of lace or satin ribbon.
5. Valentines Day is a popular day to get engaged, but takes a second seat the Christmas.
6. School dances for teenagers are often held around Valentines Day. Many high school students also use the holiday to raise funds for their football, cheerleading, or scholastic organization by selling cookies or flowers that are purchased by students to be delivered to their friends while they are in class.
7. Dinner at a restuarant is a very popular modern day Valentines tradition. It is so popular that many restuarants create a special price fixed menu for Valentine Day. The menu usually includes only a few selections in order to keep up with the overwhelming demand for a night on the town.
8. Love poetry is often given as a gift, either in a written note or recited.
9. Romantic movies are often released around Valentines Day, making a trip to movie theatre a popular choice during February.
10. Many traditional symbols of Valentines day began in Victorian times and are still prevalent today including: cupid with his bow and arrow, cherubs, love birds, doves, hearts decorated with lace, and the colors pale blue and green, pink and especially red.

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