Do you know which day, according to the Greeting Card Association, is the busiest for sending greeting cards?
We suppose you can guess that it's Christmas, but do you know which one comes next?
Valentine's Day! The Association has calculated that 1 billion greeting cards are sent every year!
Although in Bulgaria there is debate over whether February 14th should be celebrated as a day for lovers, we at NGB Consulting believe that it doesn't matter where the holiday comes from, because it is yet another reason to show the people close to us how much we value and love them.
And in fact, St. Valentine's Day, so loved by romantics, has a lot in common with St. Trifon's Day, beloved by wine connoisseurs. You didn't know that, did you? The story goes that St. Valentine was a healer, just like St. Trifon. Knowing that medicines tasted unpleasant to the sick, the healer helped himself by mixing them with wine. Valentine also used the alcoholic drink to rinse wounds. Does this remind you of someone? Perhaps of St. Trifon, regarded in Bulgaria as the patron saint of winegrowers. But the similarities don't stop there! In fact, both saints healed young maidens. And St. Valentine was so in love with the maiden he helped that on the last day before his death he sent her a letter, signing it "your Valentine." And it's a good thing he did, because it is precisely this decision of his that has saved the holiday's life.
Have you ever wondered where Valentine's Day is celebrated with the greatest importance?
We know – it's the USA. Data show that approximately 40 thousand tons of flowers are imported into the country especially for Valentine's Day. In wine production, the States are also keeping up with countries like France and Italy. Analysts such as International Wine and Spirits Research and Rabobank name the USA as "the most attractive of the major markets" for wine.
We invite you to see these claims for yourself through our Work and Travel programs!