Valentine's Day Love, Candy, Flowers, Cards & History

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. A.A. Milne

With January behind us, hearts all over began to ponder the month of romance. It's uplifting for some and bittersweet for others and lots of fun for children who get to make those special Valentine's Day card carrier creations.

On February 14, some women will be sad when they see their co-workers walking down the hallways with their flower deliveries. Some people will be agitated when they had to run out and buy candy for the wife of their boss the day before. Some will really be sad thinking they can't wait for that special day to come and go because they don't have a significant other or they lost the one fulfilling that role. I think the saddest part is if you have nobody at all to express a sentiment to because it is, afterall, a day of love expressions. Express those thoughts to a parent, child or friend with your language in a card, a small box of candy, or a vase with one single rose adorned with a tiny red bow. It's a day of giving your heart's gratitude; it's a day of positive thoughtfulness.

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday because it's the day where there is so much love everywhere in expression, color, shape, sweets, flowers and song. If you don't get flowers, or know you're not going to, then go buy yourself some on your way to work. They'll sit on your desk before deliveries arrive and you won't contend with feeling uncomfortable. You might focus less on those self-imposed emotions. Then, after work, stop and get a bottle of wine and your favorite carry-out meal. Don't rent any sad romantic movie. Go out to a movie you've been wanting to see. Go buy something for yourself. The self-imposed feelings is not gender specific. There are solutions to get anyone through the love holiday that can carry positive results, not "woe is me all day long until I cry myself to sleep" results. Lastly, don't expect to receive anything because if you do, you're setting yourself up for disappointment and you completely eliminate any possibility of actually being surprised. Focus on what you can do for yourself and for someone who needs a thoughtful pick me up.

Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place. Zora Neale Hurston

Millions of boxes of chocolate candies are sold every Valentine's Day and most of those boxes are purchased by men. In fact, the idea of boxes of candy came from a man--Richard Cadbury in 1868.

The New England Confectionary Company (NECCO) has been making conversation candies for over a century beginning in 1866 and the hearts came out in 1902. You can get a sneak peak as to how the conversation hearts are made on their site.

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.

Albert Einstein

By all means, do not wait until February 13 to select a card for your loved ones. It makes the experience seem like an afterthought. Have all your plans made in advance because if you don't rush, you'll be able to put more thought into your surprise, right? A wise person always knows a last minute gift.

Valentine's Day is the second top selling day of the year for cards next to Christmas. You can't miss your opportunity of card selection because you'll know when you've reached the correct aisle. There is red and maroon and pink and burgundy running up and down and across each row. So, who gave us the first Valentine's Day card on the market in the United States? It was Esther A. Howland (1828-1904) during the 1840s. She would import the materials she needed to create her cards which included special paper and lace from England. Her idea became so popular and marketable, she grew a business that generated a six-figure annual salary.

Then, in the early 1900s, Hallmark brought us its first Valentine's Day card and I think we're all familiar with Hallmark now. A young man by the name of Joyce Hall came to Kansas City, Missouri from Nebraska with a vision and the ambition to succeed. We experience that vision everytime we step into a Hallmark store. Thirty years ago, some of us might not have imagined that we would be able to purchase cards through an electronic source. This isn't to be confused with the electronic card. It makes for a more personal touch to actually deliver a card with handwritten language inside especially when handwritten letters seem to be a thing of the past.

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~ Author Unknown

Women love receiving flowers for Valentine's Day, even some of the women who say they don't. Roses are very popular flowers to give because they universally spell love. Flowers, like chocolates, were items to display affection that followed after the sending of cards. Then, jewelry became added to the list. Now, you can probably get an e-card that has .jpg's of roses and a piece of candy throughout the card with heart shapes as a border. Seriously. And, seriously, don't do that.

Resources for quotes: www.brainyquote.com; www.quotegarden.com.