I was reading about St Valentine's Day around the world and the figures said that the trade is worth something around $20bn in the US and £2.5bn in the UK.
All this in honour of a bishop who, against the will of the Roman Emperor of the time, secretly married the couples who came to him. There were no cards, chocolates, expensive dinners and the like, just a man who offered, because of his beliefs, Christian love and support.
Today has little to do with love, unless it's the love of money.
A florists I passed today seemed to have raised the price of their flowers in honour of the day. The local card shop had removed three aisles of birthday and other cards and replaced them with Valentine's day merchandising.
One of the people I spoke to today told me that people needed the flowers, gas-filled balloon, card, chocolates, expensive presents, meals out and the St Valentine's night 'two drinks for the price of one' evenings because they don't know how to say "I love you!" any other way!
And Hallmark (and all the other companies) say a big "Thank You!"
Pax
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