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Valentine's Day
Always observed on February 14
| Approximately 191 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged industry-wide (not including packaged kids’ valentines for classroom exchanges), making Valentine’s Day the second-largest holiday for giving greeting cards. |
| In addition to the U.S., Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, and Italy. |
| Hallmark first offered Valentine’s Day cards in 1913 and began producing them in 1916. |
2008 Product News
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Hallmark offers more than 2,000 Valentine’s Day greeting cards, including Warm Wishes value cards at 99 cents, Shoebox humor cards, Mahogany valentines for African-American consumers and Sinceramente Hallmark designs with Spanish and bilingual messages designed for Hispanic consumers.
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Hallmark Gold Crown® stores offer the widest variety of unique and innovative cards including new Spin-a-majigs™ that come to life with animated motion through the use of hand-activated gears, Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED™ Valentine’s Day cards that help save lives in Africa, Cards With Sound that play favorite songs and audio clips from movies and TV shows, and Cards With Motion that provide a fully animated two-second scene.
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Valentine's greeting cards featuring popular political figures such as President George W. Bush and Senator Hillary Clinton are available for the first time, bringing a light-hearted chuckle to the political frenzy.
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Hallmark has 15 of the hottest licensed characters for classroom valentine exchanges, including Disney’s Princesses, Ratatouille, Cars, High School Musical, Spiderman, Barbie™, Mickey & Friends, Looney Tunes™ and more.
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Hallmark Gold Crown stores offer a variety of gifts including animated stuffed animals, the exclusive Reba McEntire Love Revival CD and Gillham & Grand™ premium chocolates.
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Valentine-themed gifts such as photo frames, books, candles, boxer shorts and mugs also are available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores.
- Valentine partyware for home, school and office plus stickers, balloons and a variety of gift bags, wrap, tissue and add-ons makes one-stop valentine shopping easy.
Holiday History
According to Roman legend, during the third century Valentinus was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs and sentenced to death. While jailed, according to legend, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. The night before he died, Valentinus wrote a farewell note to the girl, which he signed, “From Your Valentine.” His sentence was carried out the next day, Feb. 14, 269 A.D.
Hundreds of years later in fifth century Rome, people honored Juno, the pagan goddess of love and marriage, on Feb. 14. During the celebration, men would draw women’s names and court them for marriage.
Around 498 A.D., Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration.
In 1849 Esther Howland of Worcester, Mass., published the first American valentine.
In Stores
Available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark products are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.
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