Some Valentine’s Day facts you’ll love

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By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer Updated 3:09 PM Monday, January 23, 2012

Nearly two-thirds of all Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day with greeting cards taking the No. 1 ranking when it comes to the most popular Valentine’s Day gift.

Here’s more interesting facts about the lovely holiday:

Valentine’s Day is the second most popular card-giving occasion in the U.S., after Christmas, with an estimated 190 million cards exchanged each year.

Approximately half of all individual cards exchanged in America are given to family members other than a husband or wife, usually children.

Women purchase more than 80 percent of the valentines, shopping early for family members and friends as well as their sweethearts. Men wait until the last minute to shop and purchase only one card, usually for their significant other. Still, Valentine’s Day is the number one holiday for men to purchase greeting cards.

When asked what type of card they were likely to give their sweethearts, 45 percent of the women said they were likely to give a humorous card, while only 34 percent of the men said they were looking for a laugh.

Valentine’s Day is the largest e-card sending occasion of the year. An estimated 15 million e-valentines will be sent in 2010.

One-fourth of the traditional valentines are humorous, with adults ages 35 and younger most likely to send those cards.

Teachers receive more valentines than anyone else in the U.S.

The first valentines in America were exchanged during the Revolutionary War. They were handmade and featured sentimental verses written in a flowing script.

SOURCE:

Greeting Card Association.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@DaytonDaily News.com.

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