Why do we send cards?
The English were the first people to send valentines. This tradition started started around the 1400's. Originally the cards were homemade. Then flowers and candy were also given on Valentine's Day. When she was nineteen, Esther Howland started the first American valentine business in 1847. At first she only made a few valentines. Pleased by the results, her father sent for lace, colored paper, and paper flowers. She made more cards. Hoping for a few hundred dollars, she received 5,000 dollars worth of of orders. With a few girls she set to work making valentines in one of her parents rooms. Esther designed while the girls copied them. Several years later she owned a factory and her company was the main valentine manufacturer in America. Her handmade cards started selling in stores. Later on, machines printed cards. Card companies printed millions of valentine cards cheaply. Everyone gave their loved ones cards. Now, handmade and store bought valentines are given on Valentine's Day.