About 1 billion cards are sent for Valentine's Day each year. It is the second-biggest card-exchanging holiday after Christmas, when about 2.6 billion cards are sent annually. Most Valentine's Day cards — about 85% — are bought and sent by women. The first written Valentine's Day card is thought to have been in Great Britain in 1415 from Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife, and the first commercially made Valentine's cards were produced in 1849 in Massachusetts by Esther Howland. By 1900, cards were more popular in the US than handwritten letters, which is attributed to more readily available printing technology and affordable postage.
More about Valentine’s Day:
- During the Middle Ages, February 14 was considered to be the starting date of birds’ mating season, which is thought to have contributed to the holiday being associated with romance.
- The average person spent an estimated $300 US Dollars for Valentine’s Day in 2013.
- The Catholic Church has three saints named Valentine, and it is not known for sure which one the holiday was named after.