Whether we’re single, happily married or something in between, we all know Valentines Day is on the way. It could be that love is in the air, but more than likely it’s because it happens to be the next major holiday after Christmas and stores replace candy canes and gingerbread houses with heart-shaped everything. As the date of romance approaches and you search for the perfect gift for your partner, or pretend you’re happy alone, we’re bringing you a history of Valentine’s Day marketing.
A Brief History of Valentines Day
In 3rd century Rome, Emperor Claudius II decided unattached men made better soldiers than those with wives and children and so outlawed marriage for young men within the empire. Legend has it that a priest named Valentine continued to perform marriages for lovers in secret. When Claudius discovered Valentine’s defiance, he ordered the priest be put to death. Two centuries later, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as a day for honouring Saint Valentine. It was not, however, a day associated with love until the Middle Ages, where in France and England the date was believed to be the beginning of birds’ mating season, thus beginning the connection between the Saint’s day and romance (or copulation). Written Valentine’s letters and cards began to appear more commonly in the 15th century, and by the 17th century it was commonplace to present a loved one with a card, called a “Valentine”. It didn’t take long for this to catch on in the United States of America, and by the mid 1800s Valentine’s cards were being produced for the masses. Thus entered the opportunity for marketers.
Marketing’s Love for V-Day
Today, it’s estimatedover 1 billion cards are sent worldwide for Valentine’s Day, just behind Christmas. To say there’s an interest in the day may be understating things a bit. In the 20th century, cards were supplemented with all the gifts we’ve come to associate V-day with: bowed boxes of chocolate, ornate rose bouquets, and diamond-studded jewelry. In Canada, we seem to enjoy purchasing alcohol and tech toys too. That’s become the standard now and brands are required to find novel ways to sell to customers through Valentine’s Day.
