Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a day dedicated to love, romance, and heartfelt gestures.
However, while many of us are familiar with the traditions of exchanging gifts, sending cards, and indulging in romantic dinners, there's a wealth of fascinating facts about this day.
From its ancient origins to modern-day customs, Valentine's Day is a treasure trove of captivating tidbits waiting to be discovered, steeped in history and cultural significance.
Join us on a journey as we uncover 10 fascinating Valentine's Day facts that are sure to surprise and enchant you, shedding new light on this timeless celebration of love.
Whether you're a hopeless romantic or a skeptic of cupid's arrow, these intriguing tidbits will deepen your appreciation for the Valentine's Day tradition.
What are the Origins of Valentine’s Day?
The origin story of Valentine’s Day—the holiday that the world has fallen in love with quite literally— is somewhat murky. Many historians believe that the earliest link to the modern celebration of love associated with Valentine’s Day began in Rome, the city of romance, with the pagan festival of fertility. This festival was known as Lupercalia and was celebrated in mid-February.
During this festival, naked men would gather together and sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purity to Faunus, the Roman god of Agriculture, as well as Romulus and Remus the Roman founders. They would then cut the goat hide into strips dipped in the sacrificial blood and use them to whip the women, believing that this would make the women more fertile.
Later in the day, the women’s names would be thrown into an urn and their names would be chosen randomly to be matched with a man for the next year. This arrangement often ended in marriage and children.
Though the festival continued 150 years into the legalisation of Christianity in the Roman Empire, it was eventually discontinued due to being “non-Christian.”
However, shortly after this, the Catholic church declared that February 14th would be set as a day of feasting and celebration in honor of the martyred Saint Valentine (although no one seems to know which one of the three popular Saint Valentines).
Despite Valentine’s Day receiving its official, current date at this time, the holiday wasn’t romanticized until the 14th century when English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote “Parliament of Fowls.” This poem was one of the first references to the concept of Valentine’s Day being a special day for lovers.
Surprising Valentine’s Day Facts That Are Sure to Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
1. The Valentine’s Day tradition of gifting people with boxes of chocolate was started by Richard Cadbury in 1861.
The world-renowned chocolate company Cadbury was founded by John Cadbury in Birmingham, England in 1824.
In an effort to increase Cadbury’s chocolate sales, Cadbury’s son, Richard, had the idea of packaging the chocolates in fancy boxes.
In 1961, Richard introduced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day, and the rest is history.
2. Close to 250 million roses are grown across the world specifically for Valentine’s Day each year.
With that many petals, it’s hard to imagine getting to the bottom of the age-old question of “he loves me, he loves me not.”
Some of the countries that contribute the most to this mass flower production for V-Day include Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and the Netherlands.
3. Valentine’s Day is the second most popular day for sending cards.
Valentine’s Day comes only second to Christmas for the most popular day for sending cards. It has been reported that over 1 billion valentines are sent globally, according to this video from Homeschool Prep.
4. Chocolate used to be prescribed by doctors to people suffering from broken hearts.
Yes, you read that right! Back in the day, physicians would recommend consuming chocolate to those suffering from a broken heart.
As far as I’m concerned, that is some solid proof of chocolate’s healing properties.
5. Different colors of roses have different meanings.
Next time that you head to the flower section of the store to pick out some blooming beauties for your loved one, keep this guide in mind if you want to send a specific message.
Red Roses—Love and Passion
Orange Roses—Energy and Desire
Yellow Roses—Friendship and Joy
Green Roses—Growth and Abundance
Blue Roses—Mystery and Uniqueness
Lavender Roses—Wonder and Enchantment
Pink Roses—Elegance and Sweetness
Peach Roses—Sincerity and Gratitude
Black Roses—Change and Courage
White Roses—Young Love and Innocence
Ivory Roses—Grace and Charm
Want to send more than one message to your loved one? Consider trying rainbow roses or a mixed bouquet of different colored roses.
6. The very first valentine was sent from a jail cell.
Reportedly, the first valentine ever sent was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was being held prisoner in the Tower of London as a result of his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.
In the heartbreaking poem that he sent to his wife in 1415, he wrote: “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine."
Sadly, Charles, who was only 21 at the time, would have to wait another 20 excruciating years until he would finally be released from his cell.
What a brutal way to learn that “distance makes the heart grow fonder.”
7. It is generally believed that the first Valentine’s Day celebration took place in France.
While precisely pinpointing the first official Valentine's day observance remains a challenge, it is widely believed that the first official Valentine’s Day as a celebration of love took place in Paris during the 1400s.
Both the English and French associated the mid-February timeframe with the mating season of birds, thus deeming it a fitting occasion to honour romance.
8. Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently throughout different countries across the world.
When we think of Valentine’s Day, our minds are typically flooded with images of teddy bears, boxes of chocolates, and roses, but did you know that Valentine’s Day customs can look drastically different according to different countries and cultures?
For example, in Japan, women give chocolate to men, which is later reciprocated on a separate day known as White Day on March 14.
To learn about more interesting customs carried out around the world on V-Day, click here.
9. Not all Valentine’s Day messages are laced with love— In the Victorian Era, “Vinegar Valentines” were sour messages meant to turn away adoring admirers.
Valentine’s Day may be regarded as one of the sweetest holidays, but even on this special occasion, Victorians weren’t particularly ones for sugarcoating.
During this era, people would anonymously send what were known as “vinegar valentines” or “penny dreadfuls” to reject unwanted suitors.
These cards would “comically” insult, discourage, and reject those who were deemed as undesirable love interests.
Talk about shooting an arrow through someone’s heart.
10. The top five most popular Valentine’s Day gifts across the globe are as follows:
#1. Chocolate or Candy
(34 percent of Valentine’s Day participants intend to buy or give some)
#2. Flowers
(28 percent of V-Day participants)
#3. Fragrance
(20 percent of V-Day participants)
#4. Wine or Liquor
(16 percent of V-Day participants)
#5: Jewlery or Fashion Accessories
(16 percent of V-Day participants)
Are you surprised? How many of these gifts do you foresee in your Valentine’s Day festivities?
Long Live Love
As we come to the end of our exploration into the lesser-known facets of Valentine's Day, it's evident that this holiday holds far more depth and richness than meets the eye.
From its roots in ancient traditions to its modern-day manifestations across the globe, Valentine's Day continues to captivate and inspire us.
Whether you're single or coupled up, embracing tradition or forging new ones, these fascinating facts offer a fresh perspective on the celebration of love.
As we bid farewell to another Valentine's Day, let's carry with us a deeper understanding of the history, customs, and cultural significance that make this day so special.
After all, love in all its forms is worth celebrating, today, tomorrow, and every day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!