South Bay Valentine Day Celebrating
What is the History of Valentine Day?
Valentine Day is celebrated on the 14th of February every year.
History doesn’t give us any guarantees as to the origins of Valentine’s Day.
This annual tradition harkens back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia which was held yearly in mid-february. It was a celebration that welcomed the coming spring and likely honoring either Lupa the she-wolf of Rome who suckled Romulus, and Remus or Faunus their God of fertility. This included a celebration of fertility in nature. As avian
mating season begins in mid-February.
Why do we celebrate valentine’s day?
The ancient Romans may have some influence on our modern day of romance. Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. The Catholic church would later martyr the Valentines which became the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.
By the end of the 5th century pope Gelasius the first replaced Lupercalia with Valentine’s Day. A common practice of the church was to replace pagan holidays with holidays of their religion.
Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage because he thought single men made better soldiers. One of the Valentines who was a priest would secretly marry couples.
WE have historical messages between lovers going back to the 1500’s. And Valentine cards can be traced as far back as the late 1700’s!
Cupid the roman god of love, as well as hearts traditionally the seat of emotion, are often symbols of this day of love and romance.
It is estimated that in America alone that we spend an average of eighteen and a half billion dollars on Valentine Day.
What to Do on Valentine Day in the South Bay?
Catch some music at the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation on the 14th and 15th as Angel Town Combo plays their unique brand of soul and jazz.
One of my favorite things to do in the South Bay is a drive around Palos Verdes. The inspiring views of the ocean across to Cataline takes my breath away. The many peninsula offers many recreational and hiking opportunities. Just be careful. And let’s not forget about Torrance’s Madrona Marsh Nature Centre or the Charles H. Wilson Park. The Marsh is like disappearing into another world.
Staycation with your favorite other
There are plenty of hotels that you can book to enjoy the ocean views in PV, Redondo, Manhattan and Hermosa Beach.
What nicer after a day hiking than a massage and flowers delivered to your room. Then a walk out into the South Bay night life. With world class restaurants and entertainment.
Where to Eat and Do on Valentines Day?
https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/americans-spend-239-billion-valentines-day-year
Americans to Spend $23.9 Billion on Valentine’s Day This Year
WASHINGTON – Valentine’s Day spending is expected to reach $23.9 billion this year, up from $21.8 billion in 2021 and the second-highest year on record, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
“Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for many Americans, even more so as we navigate out of the pandemic, and retailers are prepared to help them mark the holiday in a memorable and meaningful way.”
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay
“Following the historic level of consumer spending over the winter holidays, it appears that the trend will continue into 2022,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for many Americans, even more so as we navigate out of the pandemic, and retailers are prepared to help them mark the holiday in a memorable and meaningful way.”
More than half (53 percent) of U.S. consumers plan to celebrate the holiday in 2022, up from 52 percent in 2021. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of those celebrating indicate it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic.
According to the survey, shoppers expect to spend an average of $175.41 per person on Valentine’s Day gifts, up from $164.76 in 2021. The increase comes as many intend to spend more on significant others or spouses.
Candy (56 percent), greeting cards (40 percent) and flowers (37 percent) remain the most popular gift items this Valentine’s Day.?Nearly a third (31 percent) of respondents plan to gift an “evening out” this year, up from 24 percent in 2021 and just slightly below pre-pandemic levels, for a total of $4.3 billion.?Almost a quarter (22 percent) will opt to gift jewelry to a special someone. Total spending on jewelry is estimated at $6.2 billion, up from $4.1 billion in 2021 and the highest in the survey’s history.
Demand for gifts of experience, such as tickets to a concert or sporting event, has also?returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 41 percent saying they would “love to receive a gift of experience,” up from 36 percent last year.
“While traditional Valentine’s Day gifts like candy and flowers seem to never go out of style, gift givers and recipients alike are more comfortable heading out for a special meal or participating in a new experience than they were a year ago,” Prosper Insights Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist said. “This is especially true among younger age groups.”
Online continues to be the most popular shopping destination for Valentine’s Day this year, visited by 41 percent, followed by department stores at 32 percent, discount stores at 28 percent, local small businesses at 18 percent and florists at 17 percent.
The survey of 7,728 U.S. adult consumers was conducted Jan. 3-11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
About Prosper Insights & Analytics
Prosper Insights & Analytics is a global leader in consumer intent data serving the financial services, marketing technology, and retail industries. We provide global authoritative market information on U.S. and China consumers via curated insights and analytics. By integrating a variety of data including economic, behavioral and attitudinal data, Prosper helps companies accurately predict consumers’ future behavior to help identify market behaviors, optimize marketing efforts, and improve the effectiveness of demand generation campaigns