Those supermarket donations are being boxed together with more seasonal goods like stuffing, chocolates and Christmas pudding to make festive hampers for people who would normally treat Christmas Day like any other.

BBC: Tees

He is a vegetarian who eats only home-cooked food, avoiding processed items like biscuits and chocolates.

FORBES: Drop By Drop

Behavioral economics has one more lesson for gift givers: If your goal is to maximize a social connection, don't give a perishable gift like flowers or chocolates.

WSJ: Dan Ariely, Author of Predictably Irrational, on Holiday Gifts

If life is like a box of chocolates, picking out a box to give is even harder: You never know what you're gonna get.

NPR: A Bittersweet Guide to the Best V-Day Chocolate

One victim of the condition may have been Katharine Hepburn, who boasted of eating a pound of chocolates a day but kept her sylph-like figure to her death.

ECONOMIST: History of chocolate

Recently, Dougherty, who calls herself a "stress eater, " decided she needed to get rid of the bars and chocolates and fill her drawers with healthier fare like sugar-free instant oatmeal.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"Nowadays, you don't give chocolates on Valentine's Day because you really like that person, " said Chun Kyung-woo, a culture reporter for a local newspaper.

CNN: In South Korea, Valentine's Day is all about the men

Talking about your financial status may not seem like the most romantic thing to do on a day dedicated to wine, chocolates, and roses.

FORBES: "Money Talk" With Your Valentine

That may be good news for business owners like Ms. Schooler, whose store specializes in such products as handcrafted charcuterie, artisanal chocolates and Spanish hams.

WSJ: Small Businesses Confront 'Swipe Fee' Conundrum