Top 15+ Amazing Facts About Valentine's Day
♦ The Best Valentine’s Songs for 12 Zodiac Signs, According to Astrology
♦ How to Celebrate Valentine's Day 2023 Base on 12 Zodiac Signs
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| Top 15+ Interesting Facts About Valentine's Day That You Might Not Know. Photo KnowInsiders |
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Why is Valentine's Day Clebrated?
Like a lot of other long-running holidays, the history of Valentine's Day is complicated. It's believed to have originated in ancient Roman times, when there was a holiday in mid-February called Lupercalia.
The beginning of the fertility-themed Roman festival of Lupercalia was a procedure that coupled off the city's youth. This is the reason why some historians believe that Valentine's Day has become associated with love. The Roman holiday had been outlawed by the time Pope Gelasius declared February 14 to be Saint Valentine's Day at the end of the fifth century, honoring a crucified Roman priest.
Therefore, even though Saint Valentine and Lupercalia established the groundwork, the idea of a "holiday of romance" didn't truly take off until the Middle Ages. The earliest known literary work to refer to St. Valentine's Day as a celebration of love is a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Middle Ages. By the middle of the 18th century, friends and lovers were exchanging souvenirs and notes, and by the 19th century, printed cards were popular. There you have it, lovebirds. Now that you know why and when we celebrate Valentine's Day, make it the best one yet!
Top 15+ Interesting Facts About Valentine's Day That You Might Not Know
1. Who was St. Valentine?
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No one is entirely sure who St. Valentine was (or … were?).
Who exactly are we referencing when we call ourselves someone’s “Valentine?” Much like the nature of love itself, it’s largely a mystery.
According to some, St. Valentine was a priest and physician who resided in Rome. He is said to have been assassinated by Emperor Claudius II somewhere in the year 270 CE after being caught surreptitiously wed two men to get them out of military service. He might have additionally served as a bishop in Terni, Italy. It's also conceivable that the subject of these two tales is the same, which would be amusing. Additionally, there was yet another Valentine who resided in Africa and died in February.
2. When did tradition of giving Valentine's Day flowers begin?
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The tradition of giving Valentine's Day flowers dates back to the 17th century.
Today, offering red roses may seem like a natural romantic gesture, but flower giving didn't become a common practice until the late 17th century. In truth, the tradition dates back to King Charles II of Sweden, who brought it to Europe after learning the "language of flowers" on a visit to Persia, which couples various flowers with distinct meanings. Giving flowers then developed into a widespread custom throughout the Victorian era, notably on Valentine's Day, with red roses signifying intense love.
READ MORE: Top 10 Most Beautiful Rose Flowers From Around the World
| Nearly 250 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine's Day each year. There is a science to ensuring that there are enough fresh roses to go around when it comes to February 14. In an effort to provide the flowers for the holiday, countries including Ecuador, Kenya, or Columbia ship the roses to the U.S., since they do not grow in the colder temperatures we experience in February. |
| The color of flower given on Valentine's Day holds meaning. While a red rose has traditionally symbolized love, other colors like deep pink, purple or white -- which symbolize happiness, royalty and sympathy respectively -- may be given on the holiday too. |
3. What is the most popular Valentine's Day gift?
The Valentine's Day gift that people spend the most on is jewelry.
Although candy and flowers are among the most popular Valentine's Day presents, the National Retail Federation reports that jewelry will account for a whopping $5.8 billion of our spending on February 14 in 2020. With $4.3 billion, an evening out came in second place for Valentine's Day 2020 gifts, after apparel, candy, and flowers.
READ MORE: Top 10 Weirdest Valentine's Day Traditions Around The World
| During the COVID-19 pandemic, Valentine’s Day jewelry sales spiked. With indoor dining looking like an iffy prospect (it’s hard to think of a less romantic gift than a killer virus), the usual gift-giving trends looked a bit different in 2021. To compensate for the lack of wining and dining, suitors everywhere turned to another place to put their money: jewelry. In 2021, Valentine’s jewelry sales shot up 15 percent, skyrocketing its ranking from the 11th most-popular gift all the way to the number three spot. |
4. The earliest known valentine has a sad love story behind it.
The very first valentine is said to have been a poem sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife. Imprisoned in the Tower of London after his capture at Battle of Agincourt, he wrote, "I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine." Unfortunately, it would be 20 more long years until the 21-year-old would be released from his cell.
5. Some countries ban Valentine’s Day
Malaysia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Pakistan have banned Valentine’s day! Celebrating Valentine's Day with flowers, chocolates or a glass of wine could result in severe punishment.
6. Pets can be your Valentine
About 3 percent of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.
7. Children receive 39% of all Valentine’s Day candy and gifts.
If the amount of candy, trinkets, and cards my own kids bring home each year from their classroom exchange is any indication, this stat about kids and Valentine’s Day from CandyStore.com absolutely holds up.
8. Several notable celebs share Feb. 14 birthdays.
Celebrities born on Valentine’s Day include Danai Gurira (Black Panther), actor Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor), Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas, and the late Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch).
9. Much before Tinder
When dating applications like Tinder weren't around in the Middle Ages, young people looking for love would draw names from a bowl to find their Valentine.
We found it humorous that the phrase "wearing your heart on your sleeve" was actually applied.
For a week, these young men and women would pin the name they discovered to their sleeves. This was done so that everyone could see how they truly felt while wearing the name tag, even the special someone.
10. Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards
According to an array of different sources, teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards. This is then followed by children, mothers, wives and pets who are placed within the top five. Staff rooms over the world must be cluttered with letters over Valentines week!
11. Two territories became U.S. States on Valentine’s Day.
Another Valentine’s Day anniversary is one celebrated by not one but two U.S. states. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859, even if its residents didn’t know it right away. (It took a full month for the news to travel across the country via a combination of telegraph, stagecoach, and steamship.) Exactly 53 years later, Arizona followed suit as the 48th state.
12. Six million engagements on V-Day
Along with a handful of heart-shaped necklaces, some people decide to buy an engagement ring for Valentine's Day. In fact, on February 14 every year engage the stunning six million people. It is the second most popular day for engagements, after Christmas. Valentine's Day marks the end of what is sometimes called "engagement season" - each year, fully 40 percent of annual engagements take place between November and February.
13. How many cards are exchanged on Valentine's Day?
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About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. This makes it the second largest seasonal card sending time of the year.
| Americans send 145 million Valentine's Day cards each year. According to Hallmark, a whopping 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged every February 14 (and that's not even including all those kids' valentines exchanged in classrooms!). This makes Valentine's Day the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas. And how sweet: Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards annually, followed by children, mothers and wives. Needless to say, we've come a long way from 1913, which was when Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine's card. |
14. Richard Cadbury made the first chocolate
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Some people believe that chocolate boosts energy and willingness. According to scientists, eating chocolate causes the release of endorphins. Endorphins are brain sensors that can cause a positive and happy feeling. Richard Cadbury created the first Valentine’s Day chocolate box in the 1800s. It helped to establish the custom of giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
Important events that happened on V-DayAlexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for his telephone invention on V-day in 1876. February 14, 1929, was the birth of Penicillin. Voyager I’s solar system photo was taken on Valentine’s Day of 1990. On the 2010 V-day, Mexico City made the record for the largest group kiss with 39,897 people. |
Other facts about Modern Valentine’s DayValentine's Day is one of the popular days to pop the question, with as many as 6 million couples getting engaged on February 14th each year! In Australia, Valentine's Day is the second busiest day of the year for restaurants, Every Valentine's Day, the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet. The condom company Durex reports that condom sales are 20-30% higher around Valentine’s Day. In Finland they celebrate 'Friends Day' instead of Valentines Day. About 3 in 10 adults report to give valentines celebrations a miss. Being single and believing the holiday is commercialised or cheesy were common reasons why. On Valentine's Day, some Zoos offer the opportunity for people buy a cockroach, name it after an ex, and then watch it be fed to an animal, such as a meerkat. |
Interesting facts about Valentine's GiftsEvery year, more than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates are sold across the country. Sorry men, it looks like you’ll be spending twice as much as women this year on gifts. The average man spends $130 on Valentines Day, while women spend about $70. February 14th is the second largest card giving day of the year, just after Christmas. The only other day that beats Valentine’s Day in floral sales is Mother’s Day The most likely flower to be purchased? Red roses of course! Who says you can’t be your own Valentine? An estimated 18% of women sent themselves flowers. A study showed 65% of people preferred an "experience gift"— a.k.a. treatment gift voucher, tickets to a concert or outdoor experience, |
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