Make HowStuffWorks your
homepageEsther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards during her first year of business. The valentine industry in the United States has been booming ever since. Today, over 1 billion valentine cards are sent in this country each year -- second in number only to Christmas cards, according to the Greeting Card Association. (The happy day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.)
Read more
Search HowStuffWorks and the web:
Valentine's Day Roundup
Featured Content:
If you've ever been in love, you've probably at least considered classifying the feeling as an addiction. And guess what: You were right. As it turns out, scientists are discovering that the same chemical process that takes place with addiction takes place when we fall in love.
Love is a chemical state of mind that's part of our genes and
influenced by our upbringing. We are wired for romance in part
because we are supposed to be loving parents who care diligently
for our helpless babies.
Read more
Valentine's Day: Related Content
How
Chocolate Works
Mmmmm, chocolate...if only it grew on trees. Hey, wait a minute, it does. Learn about chocolate's origins. Read More
Mmmmm, chocolate...if only it grew on trees. Hey, wait a minute, it does. Learn about chocolate's origins. Read More
How Online
Dating Works
If you're stressed about spending another Saturday night alone, take heart: In this day and age, you can log on to a reputable Web site and find a date. Read More
If you're stressed about spending another Saturday night alone, take heart: In this day and age, you can log on to a reputable Web site and find a date. Read More
How
Aphrodisiacs Work
Oysters, Spanish fly, rhino horn - what do these things have in common? They're said to increase sexual desire. Do they really work? Read More
Oysters, Spanish fly, rhino horn - what do these things have in common? They're said to increase sexual desire. Do they really work? Read More
How
Kissing Works
When you really think about it kissing is pretty gross. It involves saliva and mucous membranes, and it may have historical roots in chewed-up food. Read More
When you really think about it kissing is pretty gross. It involves saliva and mucous membranes, and it may have historical roots in chewed-up food. Read More
How Men
Work
They engage in testosterone-fueled fights, ignore you for football and won't ask for directions. Are men really from Mars? Read More
They engage in testosterone-fueled fights, ignore you for football and won't ask for directions. Are men really from Mars? Read More
How Women
Work
Women aren't logical, get hysterical over nothing and change their minds without warning - or at least that's the stereotype. What's the real story? Read More
Women aren't logical, get hysterical over nothing and change their minds without warning - or at least that's the stereotype. What's the real story? Read More
How
Marriage Works
Marriage isn't just a ring and a piece of paper. It's about beginning a new life with a loved one, but it also a legal process with its own challenges. Read More
Marriage isn't just a ring and a piece of paper. It's about beginning a new life with a loved one, but it also a legal process with its own challenges. Read More
How
Flirting Works
A woman plays with her hair, a man locks eyes with you. Is this flirting? How do you tell if the person is showing a romantic interest or just a friendly one? Read More
A woman plays with her hair, a man locks eyes with you. Is this flirting? How do you tell if the person is showing a romantic interest or just a friendly one? Read More
Valentine's Day Recipes
