In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Well, I've decided to hold a Valentine's Day Fanfic contest in honor of the holiday and Saint Valentine. Below are the rules for the contest. Have fun and I hope to get many entries.
RATING: Any
TOPIC: Valentine's Day (or around that time)
TYPE: Anything (doesn't have to be a story)
DEADLINE: February 14th at 9:00 EST
DISCLAIMER: One is needed
EMAIL: kris1919@yahoo.com
*The history of Valentine's Day was taken from the History Channel