Thing’s You Didn’t Know About Valentines Day
The history of Valentines Day…
It is a day that is celebrated worldwide. Valentine’s Day first started as a celebration of early Christian saints named Valentinus. Several more saints from other religions and beliefs where then added and the 14 February became a global event, celebrated by all.
There is a popular account of a saint called Valentine of Rome who was punished for holding weddings for men fighting in the army. (Men weren’t allowed to be wed if serving in the army.) While in jail it is said that he healed the prison guards daughter. Before his execution he wrote her a letter signed: “Your Valentine”.
In the early 1800’s England, the day transformed into an occasion where lovers would express their love by presenting gifts or flowers, confectioneries and sending greeting cards, these cards where called Valentines.
With love one can live even without happiness. — Fyodor Dostoyevsky
How the rest of the world celebrates…
- China – Valentine’s Day is called lovers’ festival in China. It celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It commemorates a day on which a legendary cowherder and weaving maid are allowed to be together. Valentines Day is not celebrated because it falls to close to the Chinese New Year.
- Finland – Valentines Day is called Ystävänpäivä which means Friend’s Day.It is a day spent commemorating friends as opposed to lovers.
- Greece – Valentines Day is not associated with romantic love but rather in the Eastern Orthodox church, there is another Saint who protects people who are in love, Hyacinth of Caesarea which is celebrated on the 3 July.
- Iran – Esfandegan, is a festival where people express love towards their mothers and wives as well as the celebration of Earth in Persian culture.
- Japan – Office ladies in Japan have to give chocolate to their co-workers, unlike in the west flowers and cards are uncommon, most of the day is about giving the right amount chocolate to each person.
- Romania -The traditional holiday for lovers is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24.
- Wales – People celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day on January 25 instead, as well as Valentine’s Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.
- South Korea – Women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14 (White Day).
- Singapore – Singaporean are the amongst the biggest spenders on Valentines Day.
You know when you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” — Dr. Seuss
Fun facts about Valentines Day…
- More than 35 million heart shaped boxes filled with chocolate will be sold worldwide.
- Cassanova (The worlds greatest lover) ate chocolate everyday to make him virile.
- 73 percent of flowers are purchased by men on Valentines Day
- Roughly 110 million roses, mostly red, will be sold and delivered within the three-day Valentine’s Day time period.
- 85% of Valentines Day cards are purchased by women.
- Teachers receive the most Valentines Day Cards than any other person in the world.
- In the 1800’s doctors advised heartbroken patients to eat chocolate, claiming it would sooth their pain.
- Every Valentine’s Day, the city of Verona, Italy, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.
- 15 percent of women in the U.S. send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
- On average 220,000 wedding proposals take place on Valentine’s Day each year.
- More at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than in any other month.
- According to the condom company Durex, condom sales are highest around Valentine’s Day, which are 20 percent to 30 percent higher than usual.
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. ― Robert A. Heinlein
Don’t get the colour of your flowers wrong…
- Red – Love, courage, beauty and respect
- Yellow – Friendship and joy
- White – Innocence and purity
- Peach – Sincerity and getting together
- Light pink – Grace and perfect happiness
- Dark pink – Appreciation and gratitude
- Coral – Desire
- Orange – Fascination, enthusiasm and desire
Source: Nina Spitzer, She Knows, Wise Bread, Will Chen, Wikipedia