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Valentine's Day Fun Facts

Jan 25, 2022

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!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.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!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!