Today, February 14, is celebrated globally as a day of love. While many think it’s just a modern holiday created by card companies, the history of Valentine’s Day is actually much deeper—and sometimes even dark.
Here is the breakdown of what really goes on behind the scenes of this "Holiday of Love."
1. Long ago in Ancient Rome, it started as a festival called Lupercalia. It wasn't about flowers; it involved animal sacrifices and rituals meant to boost fertility.
2. The Church eventually turned it into a Christian holiday. People in the Middle Ages believed that birds began their mating season on February 14th, which is why doves are now symbols of love.
3. There were actually two or three men with this name. The most famous one was a priest who secretly married soldiers after the Emperor banned weddings. He was reportedly executed on February 14th.
4. Handwritten letters became popular in the 1600s, but the mass-produced Valentine’s cards we see today didn't start until the 1840s.
5. In the US alone, people spend over $18 billion on Valentine's Day. On average, men spend about double ($150) what women spend ($74) on gifts.
6. Flowers are more popular than chocolate or jewelry. Over 220 million roses are produced specifically for this day every year.
7. The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was created in 1868. Today, over 36 million of these boxes are sold annually.
8. Those little candies with messages like "True Love" were invented in 1866. About 10 new phrases are added to the boxes every year.
9. Over 8 billion "conversation hearts" are made every year. They are made so quickly that the factory has to start working just days after Valentine's Day ends to be ready for the next year!
10. Condom sales go up by 20% to 30% in February. Interestingly, more home pregnancy tests are sold in March than in any other month of the year.
11. We use lace for decoration because the word comes from the Latin lacques, which means "to snare" or "to catch"—as in catching a person's heart.
12. In many parts of Latin America, the day isn't just for romantic couples. It is called the "Day of Love and Friendship" and is used to show appreciation for best friends and family.
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