Valentine's Day is just around the corner -- nearly time to give that special person in your life a sweet present and maybe a smooch, too. It's a straightforward sort of occasion. All you have to do is share the love, which is easy to do when you shop our Valentine's collection!. But we bet there are a few facts that you didn't know about this sweetest of holidays! Here are five that surprised us.
1. More people start looking for love around Valentine's Day
According to data from dating apps like Tinder, matches are on the rise once Valentine's Day arrives. In 2015, there was a 5% increase in Tinder messages and 6% increase in matches. Love just must be in the air! Be sure to put your favorite movies and TV shows in your profile -- an Ipsos poll run by Netflix found that 13% of people would date someone who has compatible taste in shows alone. (Get more stats from Fortune here.)
2. Conversation candies are almost as old as the Civil War
Love 'em or hate 'em, those chalky hearts have a long history! The candies that have little sayings printed on them debuted in 1866 and were originally round, but the heart shapes were introduced in 1902. According to Mental Floss, the original candies were larger -- large enough to print phrases like "How long shall I have to wait? Please be considerate." Which is honestly a 2018 mood.
3. Valentine's Day is a popular time to get engaged -- but not the most popular!
Valentine's Day is all about romance, so it makes perfect sense that it's a common day for folks to get down on one knee and pop the question. But there's actually another holiday that's even more common -- Christmas! According to Wedding Wire, offering potential brides the gift of a ring for Christmas is all the rage right now. Another common day to ask for someone's hand in marriage is the day before Valentine's Day (maybe so you know whether or not you'll still need those dinner reservations?).
4. Pets don't get left out of the Valentine's spending!
According to Quartz, about 20% of US consumers are expected to buy their pet a gift for Valentine's Day! Makes sense to us -- after all, there's nobody as loyal or loving as a pet. More people are likely to give a Valentine to their dog or cat than their coworker, which, again, doesn't seem surprising. (Need a gift for your furry friend? We can help! Shop Route One pet products here.)
5. More money will be spent on jewelry than on any other Valentine's Day gift
You probably aren't surprised to hear the most commonly given gift for this holiday is flowers. But when it comes to spending, jewelry takes the lead! Hey, bling isn't cheap, and according to the National Retail Federation, nearly $5 billion is expected to be spent on jewelry alone. (Want to give your partner something really unique and special? Browse our jewelry section!)
