In the United States, St. Valentine's Day is the second largest card giving holiday celebrated. Somewhere in the vicinity of 190 million lover's and friend's greeting cards are sent each year. The holiday is said to come to us from ancient Roman Empire times when a priest who was forbidden to perform marriages for the young strapping, healthy Roman soldiers defied Roman law and performed the marriages anyway. He was eventually caught and imprisoned and executed. Now that's romantic.
Ever since the early 1700's, Americans have been sending expression of friendship, gratitude, and love to those around them. In the early 1800's, Esther A. Howland produced the first commercial Valentine greeting cards. And even though receiving a beautiful card is wonderful, Americans have demonstrated, by their purchases during this winter holiday, that candy is still our sentiment of preference.
Of all of the gifts and love notes exchanged on Valentine's Day the most popular item is candy, and for good reason. Each year on the same day in mid February (the 14th) candy is given to loved ones as a symbol of our love and commitment. There are thousands of candymakers across the country that hit high gear in the early weeks of the year to meet the incredible demands of candy lovers.