Here’s some wacky and fun Valentine Day’s trivia:
Valentine’s Day was once a Saint’s Day named after two (or three, depending on the source) different martyred priests all called Valentinus, a common Roman name. Some legends also claim a priest named Valentinus performed illegal Christian marriages when Rome was in power so he was executed as a criminal.
The Shakespearean “Hamlet” mentions Valentine’s Day. Ophelia sings, “Good morrow! ‘Tis St. Valeintine’s Day; All in the morning betime; And I a maid at your window; To be your Valentine”
In the Middle Ages, men and women drew names from a bowl for their Valentines and then had to wear that name tag for one week. This is the origin of the phrase “‘wearing your heart on your sleeve.”
Esther A. Howard is known as the ‘Mother of the Valentine’ because she is the creator of mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards (made with real lace) in the 1840s during Queen Victoria’s reign. No, Hallmark didn’t invent Valentine’s Day cards!
The flower industry makes most of their total annual revenues from Valentine’s Day– an average of 110 million roses are delivered (and approximately 15% of US women buy flowers for themselves on Valentine’s Day.)
53% of American women said they would dump their current boyfriend if they didn’t receive a Valentine’s Day gift from him. Yikes! I wonder if the relationship is already going south the lady figures if he doesn’t come up to snuff on this widely advertised day, he’s a loser.
73% of all Valentine’s flowers are purchased by men. Yet most women surveyed would rather have chocolate than flowers from their sweetheart.
Me? Both, thank you very much! But if I could only have one, I’d rather have flowers so I get all the enjoyment with no fattening food guilt.
Teachers receive more Valentine’s Day cards each year than wives or girlfriends. In fact, the majority of the Valentine’s Day cards are NOT sent to lovers. Parents, grandparents and friends receive them, too.
An estimated 1 billion Valentine cards are sent each year–about half as many the number of Christmas cards.
Women purchase 85% of all Valentine cards.
It is estimated that 3% of pet owners lavish their pets with loving Valentine’s Day gifts. I’m not one of them 🙂
Reading a romance novel creates the same endorphins as falling in love, so pick up a romance novel and fall in love.
Buying a book from your favorite author is the best way to tell her you love her! (Feel free to browse my bookshelf 🙂
Have a great Valentine’s Day! How will you celebrate?
