Valentine’s Day will be celebrated on February 14th, so let’s take a look at some fun facts for this holiday:
• Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Valentine’s Day in 496 A.D. This was his effort to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.
• In 1847, Oliver Chase invented a machine and started making candy hearts that were originally meant to be used as medical lozenges. 15 years later, he developed a way to press words onto the candy we now know as Sweethearts.
• About $20 billion will be spent for Valentine’s Day.
• Passing out Valentines is a 600-year-old tradition. The oldest record of a valentine was a poem written by Charles Duke of Orleans. He sent it to his wife while he was in imprisoned in 1415.
• 144 million greeting cards will be exchanged on Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
• Cupid’s bow and arrows aren’t just for show. Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. His bow and arrows are meant to pierce hearts and cast a spell of love.
• Richard Cadbury, the founder of Cadbury’s Cocoa and Chocolate Company, introduced the first box of Valentine’s Day chocolates in 1868.
• About 3 in 10 adults will not celebrate Valentine’s Day. Oh well, I guess that means more chocolate and roses for the rest of us!
• Nearly 6 million couples will become engaged on Valentine’s Day.
• According to a survey, more than 50% of women will dump their not-so-sweetie if they don’t get something for Valentine’s Day. You guys have been warned. Get on the phone, place your orders, and make those reservations!
