Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th every year. This celebration of love has several facts tied to it that a majority of people do not seem to know. From the reason why we give red roses, to why ‘X’ signifies a kiss, there is plenty you probably are not aware of. Since it is not something you learn at school it is completely normal to not know these things. So, listed below are some interesting facts about Valentine's Day - the day of love - that most people are not aware of.
Unknown Facts about Valentine's Day
The First Valentine Letter:
The first Valentine’s Day letter was written in one of the most unromantic places you can think of – In Prison! It was written by Charles, The Duke of Orleans who was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and jailed in France. He wrote this love letter to his second wife when he was 21 years old.
Box of Chocolates:
Giving a box of chocolates started in the 19th century. It was Richard Cadbury’s idea to start this tradition. He was a part of the British family that manufactured chocolates. The chocolate brand Cadbury took the opportunity to market their chocolates as a part of this holiday.
The Origin of Cupid:
The chubby baby with wings that holds a bow and arrow is popularly known as Cupid. This baby has been associated with Valentine’s day for several centuries. But what many people do not know is that Cupid was previously known as Eros to ancient Greeks, i.e., the God of Love. Apparently, Eros had 2 sets of arrows, one for love and one for hate. This was so that he could mess with the hearts of those he targeted.
Why does ‘X’ mean Kiss?:
In the Middle Ages, People used ‘X’ to represent Christianity or the Cross. Around the same time, this symbol was also used to sign off on documents. Once a writer finished writing, they would mark the document with an ‘X’ and then kiss the mark. This was a sign of their oath.
Giving Flowers was not a tradition:
It was not until the 17th century that giving flowers became a tradition. Though it seems like the most romantic gift you could give today, back then people had different ways to express their love. It was King Charles the Second of Sweden that first learned of this tradition and brought it back with him and introduced it in Europe. Red Roses, today, symbolize deep love. Valentine’s Day is also the one day in the year that ranks at Number 1 for the purchase of fresh flowers.
Giving Greeting Cards on Valentine’s Day:
Over the years, the number of people who take part in giving cards has certainly increased. Every year, more than 145 million Americans exchange Valentine’s Day cards on February 14th. After Christmas, Valentine’s Day has become the second biggest holiday where people exchange greeting cards.
Marriage Proposals:
More and more people now propose on Valentine’s Day. Almost half of the marriage proposals that happen yearly fall on this day. Around 6 million couples get engaged on this special day that is dedicated to love and romance.
The Reason that Lace is used:
Lace is a common item used to decorate Valentine’s Day presents. The word lace comes from Latin and means – ‘to net’ – also interpreted as ‘to catch a person’s heart.’
Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently around the world
Japan:
Valentine’s Day in Japan is all about chocolate! Japanese Women give out 2 different kinds of chocolate- Giri-choco and Honmei-choco – to their friends and male co-workers. It is a tradition for women to give confections to men. But a month later, on March 14th, they celebrate ‘White Day’ for the men to repay the women.
Denmark:
In Denmark, they give cards to their lover.
Brazil:
In Brazil, February 14th is the day the country celebrates a huge Carnival. So, they celebrate Valentine’s Day on July 12th instead. The Brazilians celebrate Saint Anthony instead of Saint Valentine. Saint Anthony was a Portuguese Catholic Priest who helped couples in their relationships. He is considered the saint for marriage and matchmaking.
Philippines:
In the Philippines, they celebrate this day with large group weddings. For this reason, February 14th has become the most common day to get married there and the most common date for wedding anniversaries.
South Africa:
In South Africa, it is a tradition for women to wear their hearts out on their sleeves. Women pin up the name of the guy they like and this is how men find out who their secret admirers are. This is an ancient tradition called the Lupercalia.
