Chocolates, flowers and cards

Discover the history behind some of the most common Valentine’s Day traditions.

Ting Gao, Reporter

Valentine’s Day has been a long-established tradition in the United States, and people have exchanged handmade valentines since possibly the early 18th century. And it’s quite the money-maker for stores. The holiday generated $19.7 billion in 2016. What are people spending that money on?

Chocolates, flowers and cards for their loved ones, of course. But why these particular gifts? Find out by looking at the infographic below.