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Shoppers’ guide to Presidents’ Day sales
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n the third Monday in February, Americans stop to remember the contributions of the many great leaders who have served as President of the United States. Certain Presidents’ Day traditions have developed over the years, including an opportunity for shoppers to find great deals on a host of items.
Originally established in 1885 to recognize President George Washington, the day we now know as Presidents’ Day was then known as Washington’s Birthday and was traditionally celebrated on February 22. The holiday became known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved to the third Monday in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which enabled the nation’s workers to enjoy more three-day weekends. In addition, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act served as a way to combine the celebration of Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which is February 12.
In addition to serving as a chance to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of our nation’s past presidents, Presidents’ Day has emerged as a day to rest and shop. Stores across the country advertise special prices to tie into the day and capitalize on the three-day weekend. For many retailers, Presidents’ Day is the first major sales opportunity of the new year. The following are some ways shoppers can capitalize on Presidents’ Day sales. • Stock up on winter apparel. Now is the time to enjoy deep discounts on winter apparel. Purchase clothing, coats and boots that your family can wear next year. Parents can estimate sizes for growing
Winter 2020
SEASONS® MAGAZINE
How chocolate became tied to Valentine’s Day
children. Discounts on winter apparel as winter winds down may be as high as 70 percent, meaning savvy shoppers can save substantial amounts of money.
• Score big on big-ticket items. Appliances may go on sale at steep discounts on Presidents’ Day. Shoppers who need new appliances for their kitchens may find Presidents’ Day sales have what they need at the prices they want to pay. Save even more on big-ticket items by using cash-back or points balances on credits cards to lower out-of-pocket costs even further.
• Shop around for electronics. Computers, laptops and many different electronic devices go on sale on Presidents’ Day. Compare and contrast items you have had your eyes on for some time, determining regular prices for each item. Knowing the regular prices and sale prices will help you determine if the Presidents’ Day sale price is a good deal.
• Don’t overlook deals on automobiles. Certain holidays, such as Presidents’ Day, provide opportunities for consumers to find great deals on new vehicles. That’s because sales tend to be slow in February. Scout out the deals being offered on the car or truck you want. Sales personnel may be more open to negotiations if it will close the sale.
Presidents’ Day is, first a foremost, a chance to reflect and honor past presidents. But it also is a day for shoppers to find great deals on a host of items.
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H
eart-shaped boxes filled with decadent treats are coveted gifts on Valentine’s Day. Chocolate lovers typically have a favorite type of chocolate, whether it’s creamy filled truffles or chocolate pieces with fruit or nut fillings.
The tradition of gifting chocolate is anything but new. Chocolate and other sweet treats have been offered for centuries as prized gifts. Even ancient Aztecs and Mayans celebrated chocolate and saw it as a hot commodity. Drinks made of cacao beans would be given as presents to people of high status. Chocolate also would be offered to the gods as a token of appreciation. Cacao beans were even used as a form of currency at one point.
During the 17th century, chocolate consumption grew considerably across Europe. Chocolate houses cropped up in London, and the French elite often indulged in chocolate. Chocolate’s popularity continued to grow, but the dessert was not linked to Valentine’s Day until nearly 200 years later. In the mid-1800s, an enterprising individual named Richard Cadbury was looking for a way to make chocolate even more popular than it already was. He sought out a method to make drinking chocolate more palatable and created “eating chocolates.” These chocolates were packaged in decorative boxes. Eventually, Cadbury saw the benefit of putting images of cupids and roses on the boxes. Cadbury even designed chocolate boxes in the shape of hearts that could be saved as mementos. These chocolates soon became intertwined with Valentine’s Day celebrations.
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On the other side of the Atlantic, Milton Hershey dabbled in commercializing chocolate as well. Hershey began as a caramel maker, but experimented with covering the caramels in chocolate in 1894. Hershey would go on to develop one of the most successful brands of chocolate in the United States, which included the famous Hershey bar. In 1907, Hershey launched production of tear-drop shaped “kisses.” (The chocolates were given their unusual name because of the “smooching” noise made by the chocolate when being manufactured.) The kisses became wildly popular and made for affordable chocolate gifts on Valentine’s Day.
Many other chocolate manufacturers soon began packaging their chocolates in special boxes for Valentine’s Day. Russell Stover and Whitmans are two such manufacturers who have long specialized in heart-shaped boxes or other decorative Valentine’s gifts.
Traditionally, men have gifted women with boxes of chocolate for Valentine’s Day. However, that role is reversed in other areas of the world. For example, in Japan, women give gifts — namely chocolates — to the men in their lives to express love, courtesy or social obligation. This tradition first began in 1936 when confectioner Morozoff Ltd. ran the first ever Valentine’s Day ad in Japan through a local English newspaper. By the 1950s, other Japanese confectioners were following suit. Whether one believes that chocolate symbolizes heightened status, acts as an aphrodisiac or is just a special treat, chocolates will likely always be associated with the day of love.
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