Valentine’s Day, occurring every year on February 14 where chocolates, flowers, gifts and Instagram posts are exchanged between loved ones in the name of the mysterious Saint Valentine. I love a good Hallmark holiday or any reason to go shopping and apparently I’m not the only one! Here’s some Valentine’s Day facts to make the holiday more fun.
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1) Over 8 billion candy hearts are produced for Valentine’s Day every year! Don’t worry if you still have last year’s box — they have a shelf life of five years.
2) Nearly 250 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine’s Day each year.
3) According to the National Retail Foundation, Americans spent nearly $26 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2023. People were also expected to spend an average of approximately $193 for Valentine’s Day.
4) According to Hallmark, a whopping 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every February 14 (and that’s not even including all those kids’ valentines exchanged in classrooms!). This makes Valentine’s Day the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas.
5) Pets need love too! American households spent an estimated $751.3 million on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day last year.
6) Today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate!
7) The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415.
8) Valentine’s Day has typically been associated with romantic love and partnership. Interestingly enough, according to a Today show survey that polled 1,500 people, only 59% of spouses planned on giving their partners a gift, while 85% of parents planned to give their children something on February 14.
9) Love birds are actual birds. While the term “lovebirds” has become a popular figure of speech, it’s also the common name for Agap*rnis birds. This bird is a type of parrot that is native to the continent of Africa and can be found throughout the eastern and southern regions. The animals typically travel in pairs, which is why many couples are referred to as lovebirds.
10) Four states have a city named “Valentine”. Arizona, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia each have cities with the name, although Virginia adds an “s” on the end.
FAQs
On February 14th, 1849, photographer Mathew Brady took the first portrait of President James K. Polk. This event is significant in American history as it marked the beginning of presidential photography. February 14th is celebrated as National Donor Day in the United States.
What are 5 facts about Valentine's day? ›
- A Roman fertility festival was the holiday's precursor. ...
- There was more than one St. ...
- Valentine's Day wasn't romantic until the Middle Ages. ...
- The earliest known valentine has a sad love story behind it. ...
- Wearing your heart on your sleeve might have been a real thing. ...
- Cupid was a Greek god.
Top 10 Facts About Valentine's Day!
- Valentine's Day is on 14th February every year. ...
- It's a day to show your love! ...
- Valentine's Day comes from Saint Valentine. ...
- The first ever Valentine's Day was in 496! ...
- Cupid is often on Valentine's Cards and gifts. ...
- Around 85% of Valentine's Day cards are bought by women.
On February 14th, 1849, photographer Mathew Brady took the first portrait of President James K. Polk. This event is significant in American history as it marked the beginning of presidential photography. February 14th is celebrated as National Donor Day in the United States.
What is a fun fact about Valentine's day candy? ›
'Sweethearts' Candies Started Out as Lozenges
The iconic chalky heart-shaped candies that have been passed out lovingly every Valentine's Day started out as lozenges.
Did you know facts about February? ›
February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days! It's usually 28 days, though February is 29 days long in leap years such as 2024. But why 28 days? The Roman King Numa had originally made all months 29 days, as Romans believed that even numbers were unlucky.
Who invented Valentine's day? ›
At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day, and since then, February 14th has been a day of celebration—though it was generally more religious than romantic.
Why is Feb 14 called Valentines day? ›
The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring.
What is 7 to 14 February 2024? ›
Valentine Week Calendar 2024: Valentine's Day is around the corner and the arrival of Valentine's Week brings with it the enchanting beauty of love, warmth, and passion. The most awaited Valentine's Week spanning from 7th February to 14th February fills the love air with the spirits of love.
What makes Valentine's day unique? ›
it is a fertility ritual; it is a Christian and ancient roman tradition; it is the day of romance; it signifies the beginning of spring; it has its roots in the 1400's when Valentine, a priest, was beheaded for marrying Christian couples outside of the church; it is a holiday that is symbolized by Cupid, the god of ...
The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.
What color to wear on Valentine's day? ›
What are the Valentine's Day colors? Pop into any flower shop or even a festive hotel or restaurant and there's no arguing that red, white, and pink are the official colors of Valentine's Day.
What is special about Valentines day? ›
Valentine's Day is most commonly associated with romantic love, with millions of Valentine's Day cards being exchanged each year. Gifts of flowers or a single red rose are sent with romantic messages to loved ones and couples spend special time together.
Why 14 is valentines day? ›
Valentine's Day, and over a period of time from about the 14th century, it was celebrated as a day of romance. Another legend says that St Valentine was executed on February 14 as a punishment for performing secret marriages to save the husbands from going to war, as they were banned by Roman emperor Claudius II.
What are some facts about Valentine's day Cupid? ›
He was considered to be the son of the goddess Venus and Mars, the god of war. He is often portrayed as a naked winged youth with a bow and arrow. The bow and arrow represent his source of power, any person, shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire.
Did you know love facts? ›
10 Surprising Scientific Love Facts
- When two lovers gaze into each others eyes their heart rates synchronize.
- A study conducted by researchers at the University of Syracuse found that falling in love has similar effects on the body as taking cocaine.
- Looking at a picture of your loved one can relieve pain.
