Valentine’s Day, one of the most popular holidays around the world, has a fair share of customs and traditions you might see here in the United States. We thought we’d take a little time to highlight some of these curiosities in this short blog post. Read on to find out more!
Conversation Hearts
These small, sugary treats have been a staple on Valentine’s Day for decades! Originally created in 1866 by the candy company Necco (who have since gone out of business), conversation hearts gained such a strong following because of the short messages stamped on them. They can say a variety of Valentine’s-appropriate messages like “Be Mine” or “Text Me.” 1
People do debate on account of the candy’s taste, however. Some would say it has a chalky consistency and is overly sweet, while others would argue that they are the most fitting Valentine’s Day candy you could get from your valentine!
Sending a Valentine
Valentine’s Day cards can take any shape or size - a husband giving one to his wife, best friends exchanging “BFF” themed cards, and even students handing out miniature cards to their teachers. If you’ve gone shopping at any major retailer around Valentine’s Day, you will have certainly seen many varieties of cards for sale.
Elementary schools all over the United States usually have some form of Valentine’s Day party for their students. The small valentines students put together may have a piece of candy attached to them and are handed out to their classmates and teachers.
At the end of the day, teachers may end up receiving more Valentine’s Day cards than anyone else due to their students handing so many out. But these little cards are a treat to receive, as surely any teacher can attest.
Plushies & Teddy Bears
Another very popular thing you might spot on Valentine’s Day is a stuffed animal - usually a teddy bear. These cuddly gifts are synonymous with the holiday, but did you know that they actually got their origins from a former United States president?
In short, the story goes that President Theodore Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in Mississippi and could not locate a wild bear. His colleagues found one and tied it to a tree for the president to shoot, but he refused. A political cartoonist illustrated this series of events, which soon spread around the nation’s newspapers.
A candy shop owner saw the cartoon and had the idea to make a stuffed plush bear. He named it Teddy’s Bear in honor of the president and his decision. Then, he began mass producing the plushies, and the rest was history. They are one of the most popular and adorable gifts you can give to this very day! 2
Galentine’s Day
Typically celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day is a relatively recent addition to the holiday festivities which involves celebrating your friendship with your besties. As the name suggests, these are usually all-women occasions and can consist of lunch, dinner, or another fun activity the group may decide on.
The origins of this day actually come from a popular TV show - Parks and Recreation. The show’s main character, Leslie Knope, introduced it in its first fictional format. It became so popular over time, however, that nowadays, themed merchandise around the holiday is sold at stores and some restaurants offer special menus for guests.
If you’ve read this far, we hope you learned a new fact or two about Valentine’s Day! There are so many ways of celebrating the occasion around the world, and here in the United States, Valentine’s Day certainly has some unique charms.
By Hadrian Barbosa
Sources
1 “History.” Necco® - about Us: History, 2006, web.archive.org/web/20060506195745/www.necco.com/AboutUs/History.asp.
2 “The Story of the Teddy Bear.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 24 Oct. 2024, www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm.