Valentine’s day is here, and it’s important you get your facts straight in case your significant other quizzes you on the meaning of Valentine’s day. Now you’ll be able to lay down some insanely useful trivia in between smooches.England’s King Henry VIII may have had one wife executed, another beheaded, and two marriages annulled. Nonetheless, the king declared February 14 as the holiday Valentine’s Day in 1537.
This Valentine was not professing love. Valentine attempted to have Roman Emperor Claudius II the Cruel convert to Christianity to no avail. Instead he was executed for not converting to paganism on February 14, 278 A.D. You can find his skull at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome.
In the past, love knots were drawn on paper or made with ribbon. The knot represents undying love as the loops are never ending with no beginning or end.
Cupid is the Roman god of desire, erotic love and attraction. Whoever is hit by his arrow faces uncontrollable desire.
It is estimated that 220,000 marriage proposals will take place on this romantic day. No word on how many will say yes to the big question.
It is believed that x for kisses comes from the Middle Ages. Many people were illiterate and ‘x’ would mean a sworn oath. Christians would kiss the ‘x’ to emphasize their honesty.
Teachers receive the most cards for Valentine’s Day. Followed by kids, mothers, wives, girlfriends and pets.
Red roses are the most popular flower given on this date.
Juno is the Roman goddess of love, marriage and women.
Despite the estimated 190 million cards given every year for Valentine’s Day, it comes second behind Christmas.
Doctors in the 1800’s prescribed chocolate to patients suffering from lost love.
In the Middle Ages, men and women would pull names out of a bowl, the name drawn would be the valentine. For the week the name was worn on the sleeve, hence the term ‘wear your heart on your sleeve.’
Based on a study conducted by Oxford University, when you are in love you lose an average of one friend.
It has been a standard for flowers and chocolates to be given on Valentine’s Day for decades. In the 1980’s, the diamond industry began promoting jewelry as part of showing your love to your significant other.
Verona, Italy receives approximately 1,000 letters addressed to Shakespeare’s Juliet from Romeo and Juliet.
When Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the poem “Parliament of Foules,” in 1375, Valentine’s Day had never been mentioned before. Chaucer wrote that on February 14 birds and humans go about choosing their mates.
It is no t only humans celebrating the day of love. Pet owners are buying gifts for their furry family members as well.
Americans will spend approximately $1 billion buying chocolates for Valentine’s Day.
