Illustration of one personified heart playing guitar and the other heart dancing. Text, "Statistics"

Illustrations by Cachetejack

STANDARDS

CCSS: 6.SP.B.5, 7.SP.A.2, MP1, MP3, MP5

TEKS: 6.12C, 6.12D, 7.6G, 7.12B

Be Mine

February is the month of love . . . and Valentine’s Day! Every year, Americans spend billions on goodies like chocolates and red roses for their loved ones. People give gifts to spouses, relatives, friends, and even pets!

Many countries have their own unique Valentine’s Day traditions. In Denmark, sweethearts swap pressed snowdrop flowers, while in Japan girls give chocolate to friends, co-workers, and—of course—their crushes. February 14 is also National Chocolate Day in Ghana, where they celebrate the African country’s top export: cocoa beans.

But Valentine’s Day’s origins remain a mystery. Some people think it descended from the feast of Lupercalia, a festival celebrating the Roman god of agriculture. Most people today believe it’s based on the Roman Catholic holiday Saint Valentine’s Day—but it isn’t clear who Saint Valentine was!

One candidate is a 3rd-century saint who performed weddings for Christians and soldiers. Back then, both groups were banned from marrying. But there are several other saints also named Valentine that the holiday could honor. In 1969, Pope Paul VI removed Saint Valentine’s Day from the Catholic calendar because of the uncertainty.

But people still choose to celebrate! While not everyone participates in the holiday, 52% of Americans are still planning something for Valentine’s Day. Are you one of them?

Answer the questions using the information in the infographic and graphs. Want to dig deeper? Go to scholastic.com/math for
5 more questions! Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

How much did people spend on Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets in 2023?

A. $1.7 billion

B. $1.9 billion

C. $2.1 billion

D. $4.1 billion

In which year was  Valentine’s Day spending in the U.S. roughly $21 billion?

A. 2015

B. 2020

C. 2019

D. 2023

How many adults surveyed said they wanted flowers or plants for Valentine’s Day?

A. 108

B. 162

C. 173

D. 313

Between which two years did the greatest increase in Valentine’s Day spending occur?

A. 2013 & 2014

B. 2018 & 2019

C. 2015 & 2016

D. 2019 & 2020

A large heart-shaped box of chocolates sells for $39.99. What would it cost to buy one for every respondent who said they wanted chocolate or candy for Valentine’s Day?

MATH TALK
Why do you think some gifts are more popular than others?

What does your class think?

Who do you buy gifts for on Valentine's Day?

Please enter a valid number of votes for one class to proceed.

Who do you buy gifts for on Valentine's Day?

Please select an answer to vote.

Who do you buy gifts for on Valentine's Day?

0%
0votes
{{result.answer}}
Total Votes: 0
Thank you for voting!
Sorry, an error occurred and your vote could not be processed. Please try again later.
Skills Sheets (3)
Skills Sheets (3)
Skills Sheets (3)
Article (1)
Text-to-Speech