To answer this question, we might first want to ask, "What exactly is Valentine's Day anyway and why do we celebrate it by sending out Goodie Baskets and other gifts?" Originally Send Flowers to Australia called "Saint Valentine's Day," this day was a commemoration of a Christian martyr with the name "Valentine." One story attributes him being executed for disobeying the Roman Emperor's order that all soldiers remain single. Apparently, until he was discovered and imprisoned, he was performing marriages for young men who fell in love even though they were in the army. Further embellishment to the story depicts that while in jail, he fell in love with the Emperor's daughter after befriending and healing her. Supposedly the night before his execution he left a note, exclaiming his love to her, becoming the very first "valentine."
About 500 AD the Pope established the holiday and then the Pope in 1969 deleted it from the Roman Calendar of Saints (although individual celebration of the holiday was allowed.) This holiday, held on February 14 (the execution and burial day of Saint Valentine) is for the celebration of love and affection between intimate companions. It is traditionally a day where lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, chocolates, sending goodie baskets, and of course exchanging greeting cards (known as "valentines").
Growing up in Australia, Valentine's Day was only celebrated by boyfriends and girlfriends and so, it was not a day that was looked forward to at all if you were single because you didn't want to be the only one not getting goodie baskets! Many people believe that it has become too commercialized and just another excuse for the stores to sell more products and to make more money. This is just one of many differing opinions amongst people and is clearly driven by different attitudes about sending goodie baskets or gifts for holidays in the first place.
It is estimated that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children, and involve anything from candy, toys, clothes and even goodie baskets. When you include the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines. In addition, millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine's Day greeting messages such as e-cards, love coupons or printable greeting cards. About 15 million e-valentines were estimated to be sent in 2010. Sending goodie baskets is becoming a very popular way to express love on Valentines Day as well, whether it be homemade or store bought goodie baskets.
I conclude with the idea of how it makes people feel to receive Valentines cards, goodie baskets, gifts or wishes. If it brings a smile, a laugh and happiness into the lives of others, then is must be a good practice. You can choose to participate in the holiday by sending cards, goodie baskets or holiday gifts and warm the hearts of others, or you can choose not too. Just remember that it does not have to be expensive, hand written notes are just as welcomed by the receiver as a store bought card and with the interne Send Flowers to Australia t, you can find sites to help put your feelings into words, find love poems or add quotes if desired. Of course if you want to spoil that special individual, you can send goodie baskets filled with chocolate, plush animals, and any many other fun treats to show them how much you love them.