Lily Kades Harriton High School 2027
We all love Valentine's Day for the heartfelt cards, red roses, and mouth watering chocolates, but is that really only the foundation of Valentine’s Day? The origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to Saint Valentine and the Roman festival of Lupercalia and although this history holds cultural significance why is it often overlooked? Due to the romanticization of Valentine's day, it exists for solely two reasons- love and commercialization.
Over the years, Valentines Day has emerged from a religious celebration to a heavily commercialized holiday. Billions of dollars each year are spent on cards, flowers, and candies for loved ones. By the 19th century, love letters and hand written notes became outdated due to the mass production of pre-made Valentines day cards. Valentine's Day is seen as the perfect holiday to express love and affection through a card, which made companies like Hallmark heavily produce them. Flowers, specifically roses, have been the symbol of love for centuries. By the 20th century, florists saw Valentine’s day as the perfect opportunity to create luxurious bouquets full of orchids, peonies, and magnolias.
Florists even impose higher prices on roses during the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day because they know consumers will rack up crazy sales. In addition, candy is heavily commercialized due to its seasonal Valentines day flavors and special edition treats. Heart shaped boxes are the perfect Valentine's Day symbol due to the combination of love and sweets, but once companies realized their marketing potential, they began mass producing them. More well-known candy brands like Haribo and Hershey produce special edition flavors that are a must try before the holiday season ends. Although the celebration of Valentine's Day is still associated with love and affection, it is evident that Valentine's Day is a consumer-driven event.
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