Happy Valentine's Day

It was Geoffrey Chaucer, famed poet of the Middle Ages who first associated Valentine’s Day with romantic love in his book Parlement of Foules in the year 1382 with a poem written to honor the engagement anniversary of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia.

It’s a bit ironic that Chaucer was instrumental in creating our modern Valentine’s tradition by writing of a fictional tradition, and don’t we all just love irony!

Charles, Duke of Orleans is responsible for the oldest surviving Valentine which he wrote to his wife in the year 1415 while he was being held in The Tower of London.

Now leap forward in time about 570 years to the 1980s, and involve the Diamond industry and you have the current spending frenzy we all know as Valentine’s Day. Modern Valentine’s day as an industry generates nearly twenty billion dollars in spending... yes that’s billion... with a B.

About 180 million cards will be exchanged this year in celebration and 196 million roses will be given. Eighty-five percent of cards will be purchased by women while seventy-three percent of all flowers will be given by men. Fourteen percent of women over eighteen will send flowers to themselves to commemorate the occasion. Gentlemen beware; 53 percent of women say they would end their relationship if they don’t receive a Valentine’s gift.

The pressure is on!

Of all the statistics, the last is the most shocking to me. The beloved marketing industry has created such a feeding frenzy over this “holiday” that over half of all women claim they would end a relationship because they didn’t receive a gift for the occasion. Say it with me people...wow.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a big fan of Valentine’s day. When I was in a relationship I was generally quite satisfied to receive a small token such as flowers or a card. I don’t recall ever threatening to end a relationship if I didn’t receive a gift. I do recall telling my ex-husband that if he did his Christmas shopping at the dirt bike shop for the fourth consecutive year there would be consequences, but that’s another story. Since I’ve not been blissfully wallowing in couplehood, I’ve been deeply immersed in the restaurant business. Let’s face it, since Valentine’s day is our most profitable day of the year, I’m still a fan. At least that is the case at La Bella Amore...I mean come on...the name literally means The Beautiful Love. There are twinkly lights and candles on the tables and delicious Italian food, it’s the perfect place to dine for any romantic occasion. Join us for Valentine’s Day or any other evening you choose, we open at 4:30 p.m. every day.

Peace and blessings to all!