Valentine's Day
By: Kate Tunic
History
Valentine's Day has roots in many different legends. One being Cupid, the god of love. Also Valentine, who was a Christian priest, was beheaded on February 14th for being a Christian in the time when Roman Emperors demanded everyone believe in the Roman gods. He was also killed for supposedly curing the jailer's daughter of blindness. The night before he was killed, he wrote a letter to the women he saved and signed it, "From your Valentine".
History of Flowers with the Holiday
The history of giving your loved one Valentine's Day flowers comes from the old-fashioned custom of sending floral bouquets to pass on non-verbal messages. Charles ll of Sweden introduced the new idea that each flower had a specific meaning attached to it, creating entire conversations using only flowers, no words. People today still send flowers to express sentiments of love and admiration, especially on the holiday of Valentine's.
Impact on the Floral Industry
Valentine's Day tends to have a huge impact on floral businesses all across the country. It is considered to be the busiest holiday for fresh flower sales, accounting for 40% of annual revenue. Roses are extremely popular on this holiday and around 196 million are produced just for this one day. That many flowers produced, means a lot of money coming in.
Average American Floral Valentine's Day Client
Over half of the floral clients tend to be male. They are usually buying flowers for their girlfriends, wives, or even mothers. In 2013, 64% of adults who purchased flowers were men, and only 36% were women.