It's Valentine's Day and I Love You!

I'm a guy. And even though we are sometimes slow on the uptake, it's easy to figure out that women love flowers. They really like them on Valentine's Day!

Here's how I put the proverbial "two plus two equals five" together.

Years ago, when my wife and I were newly married, I decided to get her flowers for Valentine's Day. After all, it was expected, right?

However, following in the framework of birthday candles, I added an extra dozen. When it was our second Valentine's Day together, I got her three dozen roses, the expected two plus a dozen for good luck. Oh, and to be sure, I made each a baker's dozen, as well.

By the time I was at our eighth Valentine's Day anniversary, it was literally, a Kentucky Derby-like "Run for the Roses." The bouquet of more than 100 flowers looked like the blanket of roses draped over the winning horse at the famous May race.

I bought my wife's flowers at a local area supermarket that housed an actual florist shop. The staff arranged, packaged and took care of the fresh flowers. It was not just "pick up pre-packaged flowers" that might have been sitting in waterless vases for too many days.

My moment of awakening, however, came while I was walking through the supermarket, toward the checkout, with my overpowering purchase. Woman after woman, young and old, stared at the flowers. Many made overt comments about my public display of affection. Two of my favorites included, "Are THOSE for ME?" and "Would you talk with my husband (boyfriend) about this?" At least one woman was ready to take me (and the flowers) home. Others were less excited and simply noted how lucky my wife was to have someone so caring.

What's with the flowers anyway? I could have put down the toilet seat and demonstrated a much more caring attitude. I could have "done windows." I could have given her daily foot massages. Then, there's always feeding her grapes as she reclined on the sofa!

No, it was the flowers - a visible (in my case, highly visible and huge) demonstrable show of love and affection that made the difference.

Since then, I have limited my Valentine's Day floral purchases to something more manageable, but nothing less loving. I have also watched guys trying to accomplish the task of sharing the same thoughts to their wife, girl friend and/or or mother. Some have the process down pat; others labor at it. But all march to the tune of what is expected at this time of year.

This has gotten me to look into the background of Valentine's Day - and some of its symbolisms.

What started it all?

According to GrowersFlowers.com, Valentine's Day is linked to St. Valentine, a religious martyr who died on February 14, 246 (1774 years ago). It was the note to his jailer's daughter, signed "From your Valentine" that set the stage for this annual celebration of love. Gradually, St. Valentine came to be known as the "patron saint of lovers."

Further, the red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the roman Goddess of Love and Cupid's Mother. Red also symbolizes strong feelings (like love). It should not be a surprise that most flowers sold on Valentine's Day are red. White (symbolizing purity) and pink (a combination of red and white) fill out the place and show Valentine's Day flower sales positions.

Giving flowers on Valentine's Day became more popular in the 17th century. Roses, long associated with love, have now become synonymous with Valentine's Day.

Traditionally, long-stemmed red roses are given on Valentine's Day, along with chocolates. Chocolate, long associated with sensuality and indulgence, is now also deeply entrenched in Valentine's Day celebrations.

I think you can see how all this fits together, right?

According to Michael Webb, dubbed the "The World's Most Romantic Man", "America's Romance Expert", "Mr. Romance" and "The Martha Stewart of Romance," here are just a few other tidbits about flowers and Valentine's Day:

• Valentine's Day is the time of year for red roses; more pastel roses are sold for Mothers' Day.
• California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the majority sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America.
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
• 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men; the other 27 percent are bought by women.

As for the higher pricing on Valentine's Day, it's a classic matter of supply and demand. With some 156 million roses sold (2003 statistics), one just has to pay the price for true love.

A more somber note

Although love is in the air, Ashton Kutcher (who plays a florist in the movie "Valentine's Day," opening February 12) gave his take on flowers and more in a recent Reuter's interview.

Other than that flowers are a given, he noted that he and wife Demi Moore have applied another meaning to the Valentine's Day tradition. They just launched a foundation called the DNA (Demi aNd Ashton) Foundation - to help human trafficking victims rejoin society; they have decided to send flowers to some of the victims to show that someone can love them without asking for anything back. And Valentine's Day is a great day on which to send that message.

The Foundation kicked off a little more than two weeks ago - January 25, 2010. It's got a lot to accomplish, given that there are an estimated 350,000 trafficked people in the United States alone.

Still what Demi and Ashton are doing demonstrates a whole lot of love and affection! It's something that is going to last a lot longer than any bouquet of flowers.

I only wish that their web page had a place at which supporters could easily contribute to the cause. Right now, one has to e-mail them - info@demiandashton.org for more information.