You may think that Valentine's Day is all about store-bought cards, roses, and chocolate, but you might be surprised at some of the fun facts behind Valentine's Day! Whether you're a fan of the holiday or not, it's worth learning a little bit about.
Historical Fun Facts
- There are a few different theories behind the origin of Valentine's Day, the most popular one being that, in defiance of a ban on marriage, St. Valentine performed secret weddings and, as punishment, was executed on February 14th.
- It's commonly thought that the X became a symbol for a kiss in medieval times, when those who couldn't write signed their name as an X and kissed it to show good faith.
- In the Middle Ages, it was tradition to draw names from a bowl and then pin the name to one's sleeve during the week of Valentine's Day. That's where we get the expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve."
- Valentine's Day has been an official holiday in England since 1537, when it was declared such by King Henry VII.
An X has symbolized a kiss for hundreds of years!Courtesy of mashable.com
Flowers and Chocolates Fun Facts
- The red rose is known as the "flower of love" - it is said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Carnations, chrysanthemums, and gardenias also symbolize romantic love.
- 189 million stems of roses are sold in the United States on Valentine's Day! Of that, apparently 15% are women sending flowers to themselves. Go for it, ladies!
- In the 1800s, doctors frequently prescribed chocolate as a method of treatment for those who had been disappointed in love. It's not surprising when you realize that chocolate actually contains happy-making chemicals like tryptophan.
- Millions of dollars are spent on chocolate each Valentine's Day in the United States!
Red roses stand for romantic love.Courtesy of westendflorists.com
Valentine's Cards Fun Facts
- Valentine's Day is the second-most popular holiday for greeting cards, right behind Christmas.
- Among all the people who receive Valentine's Day cards, it's thought that teachers might get the most! Think about it - if every student gives their teacher a card on this holiday, that's up to 30 cards that teacher might get!
- Do you really, really love your dog? Apparently it's a new thing to get your pet a Valentine's Day card! It's a nice idea, but...you know your pet can't read, right?
- Besides, flowers, chocolates, and cards, jewelry is another commonly given gift on February 14th.
Now that you've learned a little bit more about Valentine's Day, don't forget that it doesn't have to be a purely romantic holiday! You can show your friends, family, and other important people in your life that you appreciate them by passing along Valentine's Day well wishes.
There are a wealth of cute Valentine's Day cards out there!Courtesy of flauntshop.com
Have Your Say!
How will you celebrate Valentine's Day this year? Let us know in our comments section!
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