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Article:
Be my Valentine...
ValentineÕs
Day is just around the corner. For retailers, it represents
a small uptick in an otherwise slow winter quarter. The post
holiday doldrums can be broken, if only for a week or so,
with a well-presented promotion geared toward this holiday.
So we
know ValentineÕs Day is for lovers, but what are the origins
of this holiday? Gifts, candy and flowers are exchanged every
February 14th in the name of St. Valentine, but who was this
guy?
There
are at least three saints recognized by the Catholic Church
named Valentine or Valentinius. The history of Valentine's
Day is lost to the ages. One legend contends that Valentine
was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.
When the emperor decided that single men made better soldiers
than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for
young men -- his crop of potential soldiers.
Valentine,
a priest in the young Christian church, defied the emperor
and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.
When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was ordered put
to death.
Another
story says that Valentine was killed for helping early Christians
escape harsh Roman prisons where they were beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first
'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, Valentine fell
in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement.
Before his death, he wrote her a letter which he signed 'From
your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
Although
the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories
certainly emphasize his appeal as a romantic figure.
For retailers,
packaging your promotion can really help sales. Groupings
of similar items works very well. Our nesting
silk bags from Vietnam are inexpensive and offer a three-in-one
gift that is appealing and useful. We also have matching
bags for evening or everyday use.
Offering
some sort of packaging simplifies the process, especially
for those with limited imagination or gift wrapping skills.
Our silk
sari coin purses are a great way to package small items
for the customer looking for a quick solution to the Valentine's
Day dilemma.
(This
article written by Mike McGinnis and published originally
on indiasilver.com.
We allow republication provided the piece is copied in its
entirety with links and attribution.)
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