Holiday History

Valentine's Day Ep. 4: When Love Became a Product


Listen Later

In 1840, traveling salesmen had to explain to confused Americans what a valentine card even was. Just nine years later, Valentine's Day had exploded into a national holiday. How did a forgotten British custom become an American obsession overnight? The answer lies on Park Row in New York City, where clever merchants transformed their shop windows into dazzling theaters of romance—and discovered how to package love itself for profit. Learn more at pallascenter.com
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Holiday HistoryBy Pallas