12 Interesting Facts about Valentine’s Day
Whether you’re single or in a relationship, you can’t miss out on the fast-approaching Valentine’s Day. Everywhere you go, you’ll find red coloured store decorations, cards spreading love and even discounts all around on roses, chocolates and other gifts. Though no one really knows how this day became so famous, the most popular theory behind Valentine’s Day is to celebrate Saint Valentine. When Roman Emperor Claudius II was in power from 268 to 270, he had forbidden Roman warriors to get married during wartime. However, Saint Valentine would secretly perform weddings against this rule. He was soon caught and executed on 14th February, but in his farewell note to his daughter, he signed it ‘Your Valentine’. Later, the Catholic Church started celebrating 14th February as Saint Valentine’s Feast Day.
Today, there are many interesting facts associated with this love holiday. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to brush up your knowledge about some surprising facts and unique information about this wonderful day!
- Love is Expensive
Valentine’s Day is considered to be a $ 18.9 Billion holiday. On this day, men are known to spend twice as much as women. In fact, a dozen roses will cost you an average of $75, 30% more than what they would cost you on a normal day.
- It’s the Season of Cards
Nearly one billion cards are sent out on Valentine’s Day all around the world. This is the second largest holiday for card-exchange after Christmas. Out of all the cards purchased, nearly 85% are bought by women. Hallmark, the leading card company produced its first Valentine’s card in the year 1913. Nearly half of V-Day cards are bought six days before the big day. Teachers are the highest receivers of V-day cards, followed by children, moms, wives, then sweethearts and finally pets.
- All About Chocolates
Chocolates and Valentine’s Day are as connected as Peanut Butter and Jelly. While most of us associate chocolates with this holiday, it was actually because of Cadbury that heart-shaped chocolate boxes became synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Richard Cadbury gave his beloved a box of heart-shaped chocolates in the year 1868. He also made the boxes more attractive by adding his own paintings on the lid. Nearly 35 million heart-shaped boxes are now sold on Valentine’s Day and about $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased in the U.S. alone on this day.
- Love for Pets
Who said Valentine’s Day is only for girls and boys? Nearly nine million pet owners buy gifts for their pets to express their love and affection for their furry friends. For many people, pets are not just pets, but family, and therefore, pet owners in U.S. spend more than $ 800 million on gifts for pets on this day.
- Red Roses
Flowers are also a big part of Valentine’s Day celebrations. Men contribute to nearly 73% of flower sales on this day. Nearly 15% women also admit to buying Valentine’s Day flowers for themselves. Red roses were the favourite flowers of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The bud signifies strong romantic feelings and thus, red rose bouquets are most popular on V-Day. Also, if you juggle the letters of Rose, you can make Eros, the God of Love.
- Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve
During the Middle Ages, men and women picked a name from a bowl to see who their Valentine would be. They would wear this name on their sleeve for a week so that everyone could see it. This is where the phrase, ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’ comes from as it signifies being transparent about your affection and emotions.
- XOXO
In the medieval times, X had become synonymous with a kiss. People who couldn’t sign their names in front of a witness often signed as ‘X’. Later, this letter X was kissed to showcase their sincerity.
- Japan’s Unique Tradition
Japanese women are expected to give gifts and chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. Japanese chocolate companies began this tradition through a marketing campaign. However, men are expected to return this favour on 14th March, also known as White Day.
- Going The Extra Mile
Many girls in the medieval ages are known to have eaten bizarre foods on the special day of Saint Valentine’s as they believed that this would help see their future husband in their dreams. As per another tradition, a girl would marry a man based on the type of animal or bird she first saw on this day. For instance, if you saw a squirrel, you’d marry a stingy man but if you saw a goldfish, you’re in for a rich spouse!
- Love Is in The Air
As per the condom company Durex, condom sales go up by 20-30% around this day. Also, as per research, the maximum number of at-home pregnancy tests are purchased in the month of March.
- Love for Candies
Nearly 8 million heart-shaped candies with unique messages are sold in the U.S. with notes like ‘Miss You’, ‘I Love You’, ‘U & I’ and many others.
- Romeo & Juliet
Every year on Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona receives nearly 1000 letters addressed to Juliet. This was the city where Romeo and Juliet lived and thus, many lovers send their wishes to this town.
Whether you love Valentine’s day or hate it, it is surely one of the most celebrated holidays around the world and its popularity is only increasing by the day!
