The Gift Exchange

Just what are we buying for Valentine’s Day? The History Channel has compiled the following information about what we send to our loved ones.

• 141 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)
• Over 50 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight. (Source: Hallmark research)
• Research reveals that more than half of the U.S. population celebrates Valentine’s Day by purchasing a greeting card. (Source: Hallmark research)

Candy is Dandy

• 1,241: The number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2004. These establishments employed 43,322 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 136, followed by Pennsylvaniawith 122. (Source:http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/cbptotal.html)
• 515 locations produced nonchocolate confectionary products in 2004. These establishments employed 22,234 people.
• The total value of shipments in 2004 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products was $13.9 billion. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $5.7 billion industry.
• 3,467 Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2004. Often referred to as candy stores, they are among the best sources of sweets for Valentine’s Day.
• The per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2005 was 25.7 pounds. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years; in 1997, each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of candy a year.

Flowers

• The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2005 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $397 million. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for nearly three-quarters of this amount ($289 million).
• The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2005 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $39 million. Among all types of cut flowers, roses were third in receipts ($39 million)to lilies ($76.9 million) and tulips ($39.1 million).
• There were 21,667 florists nationwide in 2004. These businesses employed 109,915 people.

Jewelry
There were 28,772 jewelry stores in the United States in 2004. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2006, these stores sold $2.6 billion worth of merchandise. (This figure has not been adjusted for seasonal variation, holiday or trading day differences or price changes). The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,864 jewelry manufacturing establishments. The manufacture of jewelry was an $9 billion industry in 2004.

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Burea

One of the most culturally-recognized icons of Valentine’s Day is Cupid. Today we view him more often than not as a chubby cherub with a little red bow and arrow. However, the roots of Cupid lie in Greek and Roman mythologies. While “Cupid” is the Roman name, the Greek myths use the name Eros.

Though the Greek mythologies differ from earlier to later, the most common representation of Eros is that he is the son of Aphrodite, who is the goddess of love and beauty. Eros was known for interfering in the romantic lives of gods and mortals alike. Another ancient source, Hesiod, wrote about Eros as a primordial god, rising from the darkness and mating with Chaos in order to create the human race.

The myth most commonly associated with Eros/Cupid is that of Eros and Psyche. Jealous of her beauty, Aphrodite had commanded Eros to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous creature. Instead, Eros is stricken by her beauty and falls in love with her. After a cruel intervention from Psyche’s jealous sisters, Eros leaves her wandering the earth seeking him. She appeals to Aphrodite for help, who gives Psyche a series of challenges to face. After completing them, Psyche is made immortal and she and Eros live together happily and have a daughter, Hedone.

Interestingly enough, the chubby cherub Cupid who we most often see today was not brought into being until the Renaissance, when the mythological figure was adapted to meet the day’s popular artistic trends.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Happy February 2 everyone! This day has come to be known as Groundhog Day. As you well know, if the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, six additional weeks of winter are said to be in store. If he does not see his shadow, it is said to be an early spring. Groundhog Day as we celebrate it originated as a Pennsylvania German custom in the 1700s, but has its roots in ancient European weather lore, where a badger was used to predict the coming of spring. Originally called Candlemas, our Groundhog Day is celebrated in locations all over the world. The most famous Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which was glamorized by the 1993 Bill Murray film.

Another fun fact? The National Climatic Data Center has reported that Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions have been accurate 61.7% of the time.

Happy Groundhog Day! Let us watch and wait, and see if Phil gets it right in 2013.

Tell us the story of how you two lovebirds met for a chance to win an entire basket filled with gourmet chocolates from popular brands! To enter, click the link here  & follow the instructions. Sharing is encouraged so don’t forget to Share the Love by sharing on your wall, re-tweeting & +1′ing for some EXTRA entries. The person with the most entries wins! Contest closes Sunday February 3rd at midnight PST. The winner will be announced on Monday February 4th.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Join us each week as we count down to the big day with romantic-inspired tips, discounts, contests and more!

Click here to enter!

Valentine’s Day is all about spreading the joy of love and kindness. We want to hear how kindness has touched your life. Share your own personal story of kindness with us to win this Valentine’s Day Gourmet Gift Basket filled with the best in gourmet indulgences.
One entry per a post and additional entries given for every share, re-tweet, or +1, because as everyone knows, sharing is caring! Contest closes Sunday, Jan. 25th at midnight PST. One winner will be chosen at random on Monday, Jan. 28th.

Guest Blogger Tracey Graham

Growing up in the wilds of Alaska, I grew up with a love for books. Since there was no television station that transmitted to our home, my family would sit around the living room each night to read out loud.The stories would range from adventure, to sci-fi, to teen romance books (this last to be read when dad was not home).

Now that I’m older and have a family of my own, I look back on these nights with the hope that my little family will always be as close as these books kept me and my sisters.

I found the perfect gift to send to my sisters…. It’s the Chocolatier Keepsake Chest. The box itself is made to resemble a book, and is just the perfect reminder of warm nights by the fire with our family. My only problem is choosing which set of chocolates to send to my sisters. I think for my sister who traveled Europe, I will send the World-Famous Chocolates, and for my sister who would rather read about traveling, I will send the Godiva Chocolates. Either way, I am anticipating that these gifts will bring back these same memories to my sisters.

All around the world, people gather together every December 31 to celebrate the passing of the old year and the commencement of the next. This New Year’s Eve, dazzle all of your fellow party guests with your amazing knowledge of New Year’s celebrations past and present! Kick back with a holiday-themed Personalized Wine Gift, a West Coast Wine Quartet or a festive Champagne Toast to Health, and cheers!

Did you know…

⁃    The first year a ball ever dropped in Times Square in New York was in 1907. It was composed primarily of iron and wood and weighed 700 pounds.

⁃    The first record of a New Year’s celebration dates back almost 4000 years to ancient Babylon, when the first new moon following the vernal equinox was celebrated. Although in March, this was still considered to be a new year by the Babylonians!

⁃    It was after the creation of Julius Caesar’s version of the Roman calendar that January 1 became the official “New Year” marker. “Januarius” as they called it was named after the Roman God of Beginnings, Janus, who had two faces, allowing him to look back into the past and forward into the future.

⁃    Pigs are considered to be a symbol of prosperity and progress in some cultures. Pork is a common New Year’s dish in Cuba, Austria, Hungary and Portugal, among other countries.

⁃    A Swedish  and Norwegian tradition involves placing a single almond inside a rice pudding. Tradition dictates that whoever finds the almond is sure to receive a year of good luck.

⁃    Perhaps the most unique New Year’s celebration is held in Tallapoosa, Georgia, where instead of a ball, the town tradition is to drop opossums at midnight.

⁃    A common British tradition is to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” which was written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. The line translates to approximately “old long ago,” and is a celebration of times past.

Cheers to you in 2013!

For me, the single most enjoyable thing about being a parent is getting to play Santa Claus.

I think every kid loves Christmas. Presents, cookies, family…what’s not to love? Nobody ever tells you, though, just how much you’ll love Christmas when you become an adult, and for entirely different reasons.

The feeling of carefully selecting gifts for my children is so rewarding. I can look at a gift and imagine the way their eyes will light up when they see it. Christmas has become about that to me; the ultimate goal at Christmas is for my children to be happy. There are so many things to give thought to in order ot make Christmas the best it possibly can be. Which Christmas movie will we watch on Christmas Eve? “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was always my favorite, but they seem to like “The Santa Clause” more. Which cookie shapes will we use to make Santa’s cookies? Ethan prefers the reindeer and Caroline the snowman. It’s tradition that the kids always get a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve, so choosing just the right pair is tough, too. There are so many things to consider without even considering the Christmas gifts.

Christmas goodies are a must-have! Kids love treats, and with the Fresh Fruit & Cookies Basket or the Tempting Treats Tower, you will be absolutely stocked up on treats . I know I always spend time pondering which goodies to fill stockings with, or just how much candy is too much! With these great gift ideas not only do they get tasty treats, but they also get a cute Christmas-themed bag or stocking.

Knowing that the treats are taken care of, I have so much more time to devote to finding the perfect everything else. Now I can make the hard decisions…… like ham, or turkey? Tinsel or garland? Snowmen or Christmas trees? Decisions, decisions!

Blog by Linda Wallace

Mistletoe’s history is a long and interesting one. There are references to “kissing under the mistletoe” in Celtic rituals and North mythology. The Druids considered mistletoe a sacred plant, believed to have medicinal qualities and mysterious supernatural powers. Mistletoe has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb.

Going back to Norse and Scandinavian customs, it was traditional that if, while out in the woods, you happened to find yourself under mistletoe while encountering a foe, you both had to lay down your arms until the following day.

Central to the history of mistletoe is the Norse myth of Baldur. Baldur’s mother was the goddess, Friga. When Baldur was born, she made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm him. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant, and the mischievous god of Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight. Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear made of mistletoe. Some versions of this myth relate it was agreed, after the death of Baldur, that thenceforth mistletoe would bring love rather than death into the world, and that any two people passing under mistletoe would exchange a kiss in memory of Baldur. Others add that the tears Frigga shed over the slain Baldur became the mistletoe berries.

Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.

Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. One belief was that it has power to bestow fertility. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up.

Later, the eighteenth-century English credited with a certain magical appeal called a kissing ball. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect not to marry the following year. The original custom was that a berry was picked from the sprig of Mistletoe before the person could be kissed and when all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing!! As Washington Irving wrote in the 1800s, “young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under [mistletoe], plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.”

Even if the pagan significance has been long forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe can still be found in many European countries as well as in Canada. Thus if a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life. In France, the custom linked to mistletoe was reserved for New Year’s Day: “Au gui l’An neuf” (Mistletoe for the New Year). Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoe any time during the holiday season.

Let’s face it, men have it pretty easy in the Christmas shopping department. Women love flowers, spa products or jewelry almost without exception. Women also have to decide every year what on earth to buy for the men in their lives. Men aren’t quite as simple to shop for; it isn’t always golf weather or baseball season!

When it comes to shopping for the man in your life, here are some great GiftTree ideas to make him smile this holiday season:

 Craft Beer and Snacks Basket

This is the ultimate gift for any man. Imagine his delight when he finds you did not get him underwear again this year, but instead a basket of flavorful craft beer. You’ll have the choice of international beer, American India Pale Ales, or 22 American micro-brews to tickle his taste buds.

Leather-Bound Golf Log

While it may not be golf weather, you’ll have him dying to get out on the green again with this handsomely-bound leather golf log. The genuine, top-grain leather is as soft as butter and comes in a masculine brown. Further, you can have his name engraved on the front cover to ensure a gift he’ll thank you for every time he golfs. The book is small enough to fit inside a golf bag, but large enough for him to easily see his scores. This gift is a score for you, ladies!

The Entertainer

This gift is a sure point in the win column for anyone. It features a leather tote, two dice cups, dominoes, cards, and a notepad for keeping score, along with your choice of Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico, Sledgehammer Cabernet Sauvignon, or Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This gift is a drink and a good time all packaged together, a gift he will be sure to enjoy.

Engraved Bettoni Pen

The professional man in your life will appreciate the sleek appearance of this sold brass-barreled pen. The gunmetal finish perfectly displays an engraving of your choice. This elegant gift also comes with free personalization and our signature GiftTree gift box, all the right elements for a superb presentation.

Wines that Rock

For the classic rock lover in your life, Wines that Rock is a thoughtful and fun gift. It features three music-themed wines: The Dark Side of the Moon is an obvious Pink Floyd homage, capturing the intensity and depth of the album with a rich Cabernet Sauvignon. The free spirit of Woodstock is captured in a “naked” style Chardonnay that is a fun expression of the character of the fruit. Rolling Stones Forty Licks Merlot is a classic that stands strong. Any classic rock connoisseur will be delighted to see his favorite classic rock celebrated through wine!

These gifts are all sure to make for a Christmas gift that he’ll tell all of his friends about. This season, select one of GiftTree’s great “gifts for him” and give yourself a pat on the back… and a glass of wine while you’re at it! Happy holidays!