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For years, a rumor has circulated that greeting card companies invented Valentine's Day, which falls yearly on Feb. 14.

The history of Valentine's Day is mushy. It's been linked to a 12th-century poem about birds mating, the Christian-martyr-turned-Saint Valentine and a deadly fertility ritual in ancient Rome, but Elizabeth Nelson, an associate professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, thinks that's all a stretch.

Bearing cards, flowers, chocolates and poetry, lovers have always swooned on Valentine’s Day as cherubs circled overhead. Right? Or is the history darker, marked by Roman bacchanalia, martyrs and lies?

For some Americans, Christmas is a 365 days-a-year obsession. For millions of others, the yuletide season is a cherished annual occurrence, comprising festive meals, gift exchanges, church services, community service, and, of course, a Christmas tree. Or perhaps you’re not a Christian spiritual believer but just enjoy celebrating Christmas in a secular way, such as through decorating your home and gift-giving, and you’re just curious to learn more about its religious roots. Regardless, there’s no denying that countless people would describe Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year.

Self-gifting soars, with half of U.S. adults single — and many others refusing to settle for dud presents.

Self-gifting is on the rise as consumers enjoy the empowerment of treating themselves. ’I’ve been doing more solo dating.’

More Americans are unattached these days and that is turning out to be a good thing for retailers

With February 14 fast approaching, many loved-up couples are hastily planning dinners, buying gifts and setting up dating partners. But, in some parts of the world, Valentine's Day is more than handing your partner a bouquet of flowers or serenading them with poetry - it involves some intense and rather bizarre practices in declaring your love.