The Valentine's Day is celebrated throughout
the world with zeal and enthusiasm.
This auspicious day has interesting legends associated
with it and reasons for its celebration as well. The Valentine's
Day has been celebrated for a long time but the ways of
celebration has changed. There are lots of information about the
number of cards, flowers and gifts being exchanged on this
special day. It would be great fun to know some of such amazing
facts about this occasion...
- The Valentine's Day is observed every year on February
14th.
- St. Valentine, who was a Roman clergyman, was executed on
February 14th, about 270 A.D.
- The Valentine's Day is observed as the second-most
popular greeting-card-giving occasion, according to Hallmark
research.
- The number of Valentine's Day cards exchanged annually is
around 180 million.
- Over 1 billion Valentine cards are sent in the U.S each
year.
- The oldest known greeting card in existence is a
Valentine card.
- The oldest Valentine card was made in the 1400's.
- The oldest Valentine card can be admired at the British
Museum (London).
- Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's.
- The tradition of presenting elaborate handmade messages,
cards and gifts to each other became popular during the 17th
century.
- By the 19th century printed Valentine's Day cards, which
were extremely fashionable were on sale.
- In 1825 the Post Office handled more than 200,000 letters
on St Valentine's Day, which is far more than the usual
number of letters.
- Over 50 million roses are given on the Valentine's Day
each year.
- A Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans is credited with
writing the first Valentine.
- The date February 14th is traditionally known for the
time when birds choose their mates.
- Roman festival of 'Lupercalia' - 'The Wolf' was
celebrated on February 15th - where young men held a lottery
to decide which girl would be theirs.
- Cupid, Doves, Love Birds, Roses, Hearts and Arrows are
all symbols of the Valentine's Day Holiday.
- During the middle of the 17th century even married people
used to take a Valentine, interestingly, which was not
always their legal 'better half'!
- In the Medieval times, girls used to eat unusual foods on
the St Valentine's Day. It was believed that by doing so
they would dream of their future husband.
- During the Middle Ages, it was a common belief that the
first unmarried person of the opposite sex a person meets on
the morning of St Valentine's Day, would become his / her
spouse.
- The modern day celebration of Valentine's Day seems to
have begun in France and England.
