There are conflicting theories about the origin of Valentine's Day. Some say that it's just a repackaged version of the Roman festival Lupercalia, while others point to the martyred St. Valentine. Regardless, the holiday has been associated with romance for centuries, and something resembling our modern celebration came into fashion in the mid-19th century.
Naturally, the complaints started right after that.
According to Time, Valentine's Day cards went from a niche custom to a mainstream pursuit during the 1840s thanks at least partly to enterprising stationers who cashed in on a promising opportunity. By 1847, Valentine's Day cards were everywhere, and the New York Daily Tribune had published the first known gripe about it. "There was a time when Valentine's Day meant something," the writer opined.
The complaint achieved nothing, and Valentine's Day continued apace. The British confectioner Cadbury introduced the classic heart-shaped box of chocolates during the 1860s, and Hershey jostled for its own piece of the Valentine's Day market when it introduced Kisses in 1907.
If you love Valentine's Day, ignore the complainers and enjoy yourself. But if you're a critic, consider that the complaints didn't matter in 1847, and they probably won't matter now.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
