SOUTH COUNTY
President ’ s
COLUMN
Was Valentine ’ s Day always about love , flowers and candy ?
On February 14 , we will all celebrate Valentine ’ s Day , a day in which we shower the ones we love with gifts of all kinds . How much is the economy boosted by Valentine ’ s Day sales ? In 2021 , in America alone , $ 22 billion was spent on jewelry , candy , greeting cards , evenings out , flowers , clothing , and gift cards . This was down from $ 27.4B in 2020 . According to retail industry sources , men mostly buy flowers , massages , and jewelry , while women mostly purchase toiletries . I ’ m hoping my wife thinks more like I do when she buys my Valentine ’ s Day gift .
The origin of Valentine ’ s Day is , according to an NPR report from 2011 , dark . One suggestion is that it began in ancient Rome where , from February 13-15 , the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia . There were animal sacrifices , unkind treatment of women , drunken revel , and a matchmaking lottery in which young men drew the names of women from a jar with whom they would spend the rest of the festival , or longer if the match was right . It was characterized as a time of love and fertility .
The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name given to February 14 . Emperor Claudius II executed two men - both named Valentine - on February 14 of different years in the 3rd century A . D . Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St . Valentine ’ s Day .
In the Middle Ages , handmade paper cards were circulated , but it was the industrial revolution which ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th century . And , in 1913 , Hallmark Cards of Kansas City , Mo ., began mass-producing valentines . Ever since that time , days ahead of the special day , women spend time in Hallmark stores reading most of the Valentine ’ s Day cards to find just the
right one for their spouse . Men , on the other hand , buy the first card they find on the almost-empty shelves at CVS or Walgreens .
In 2022 , I suggest you celebrate Valentine ’ s Day a little differently . It will require postponing it for four days to February 18 , but it will be well worth the wait . On that day , the South County Division will be hosting the annual
Train Depot Social at the Historic Venice Train Depot along the Intracoastal Waterway . It is an outdoor event in a beautiful location , where wine , beer and hearty appetizers will be served . Tickets are $ 30 , and we have two new sponsors to thank for keeping the cost of the event down , Fourthought Private Wealth and Casey Key Collector Wine . I wish to also thank C . Kelley Corbridge , Dawn Bates-Buchanan , and Jackie Mack for assuming the duties of planning and execution of the event . Skip Berg ’ s shoes will be hard to fill .
If you really want to impress your spouse , significant other , or a casual friend , put off the Valentine ’ s Day celebration until March 4 and sign up for the SCD annual
Sporting Clays Event at the Sarasota Gun Club . For $ 75 per person , you get lunch , shotgun rental ( if needed ), clay targets , ammo , and a safety orientation . Naturally , no alcohol is served at the event . No experience is required to participate , and there are instructors available to accompany your group if necessary to assist you in making the most of your experience . I suggest you sign up early if interested , as it is one of the most popular events SCD hosts , and space is limited to 112 shooters . Once again , we have Englewood Bank and Trust to thank for sponsoring the event and keeping our costs down .
We look forward to seeing you at these fun events ! � THE DOCKET - FEBRUARY 2022 | 11