It’s a day to show love to people who mean a lot to you, many would say but do you know some interesting facts about the Valentine’s day celebration?
Check out some Valentine’s facts:
1. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
2. Do you know why chocolates are synonymous with Valentine’s Day? In 1868, Richard Cadbury gave his lover chocolates in a heart-shaped box, while using his own paintings to decorate the box lid.
3. The Qixi Festival is the Chinese’s alternative to Valentine’s Day. It’s a day of lost love inspired by a story of a weaver girl who was a celestial and a cowherd who was mere mortal. The pair fell in love deeply and had two children, but were forced to part; they were then separated by a river till the end of time.
4. The most popular theory about Valentine’s Day origin is that Emperor Claudius II didn’t want Roman men to marry during wartime. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret weddings. For this, Valentine was jailed and executed. While in jail he wrote a note to the jailor’s daughter signing it “from your Valentine”.
5. The Koreans in a way celebrate Valentines Day on the 14th of every month. From January to December, see a list of how they celebrate love every month: Candle Day, Valentine’s Day, White Day, Black Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Wine Day, Movie Day and Hug Day.
The Koreans really do love to love.
6. In 2015, Americans spent about $18billion on Valentine’s Day.
7. On average, men spend twice as much as women on Valentine’s Day.
8. In Victorian era, it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
9. In China, they celebrate their Singles Day on 11th November every year, which is famous for online shopping.
10. In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.
11. The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
12. 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.
What does Valentine’s Day really mean to you?
Phil