But if you’re not Valentine’s Day’s biggest fan, take heart.
It didn’t start out as a day of love.
Its origins lie in drunken festivals and jail cells.
Today, Valentine’s Day means big business for card, flower, and candy companies.
It started with a bunch of drunken, nude Romans.
Every year, the ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercaliafrom Feb. 13-15.
Thispagan fertility festivalcelebrated an ancient god who protected the people from wolves.
Yep, that’s right.
They wanted to be hit because they believed it would make them fertile.
The men drew names and then were “coupled” with that woman for the night.
In the third century,Emperor Claudius II ordered for the deathof two men on Feb. 14.
Not surprisingly, the festival didn’t die there.
That didn’t stop it from being a day of fertility and love."
Father Valentine was not a fan of this idea and continued to perform marriages in secret.
Once he was caught, he was imprisoned and later killed.
Shockingly, none of the ladies minded ditching the naked party.
Chaucer spoke about the holiday in his poem “The Parliament of Fowls.”
Shakespeare also worked the holiday into his writing.
During the 18th century, couples in England started sending cards made of paper and lace to each other.
Might be time to bring that classic out again, am I right, ladies?
In the 19th century,factories started to mass produce paper cards.
In 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City offered Valentine’s cards.
That means that on this magical day, your relationship will feel better.
You’ll be more into each other, so take advantage!
However, this effect is not as strong in individuals with higher levels of “attachment avoidance.”
Studies show that pregnant women are actuallymore likely to go into laboron Valentine’s Day than on other days.
Maybe the healthcare providers are also biased to the day of love.
Researchers believe that women’s perceptions of a date can affect her willingness to give birth.
Only Christmas beats Feb. 14 for its number of cards sent.
Men typically spend more,averaging $196.39compared to ladies who spend around $99.87.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
We tend to stick with the old favorites.
According to theNational Retail Federation, 50 percent of consumers plan to buy candy as a gift.
Jewelry gifts like necklaces and earrings will bring in about $4.4 billion each year.
We’ll also spend about $1.9 billion on flowers.
So who is shelling out this kind of money?
Not surprisingly, it’s mostly people in relationships.
About 90 percent of Valentine’s Day customers are buying gifts for their significant other.
Couples spend about $12 billion on each other every February.
But this doesn’t mean the singles should be left out.
If you find yourself uncoupled this year, buy yourself a latte or nice bottle of wine.
Show yourself a little love and appreciation.
Or save that money and put it toward a warm vacation this winter!
About 75 percent of that candy will be chocolate.
That leaves just 25 percent left for everyone’s favorite Valentine candy: conversation hearts.
In 2009 alone, about eight billion candy hearts were made.
That isover 100,000 poundsof little “Be Mine” and “Text Me” hearts.
Why do we spend so much?
It’s not the card or candy company’s' fault that we spend so much in February.
Helen Fisher, a sociologist at Rutgers University,toldNPRthat deep down we must enjoy buying these gifts.
“This isn’t a command performance,” she explained.
