Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and if you haven’t bought your honey bunny something you’ve only got a few more days to keep yourself out of the fire.

Everyone knows that Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 as a celebration of love, but here are some things you probably didn’t know about that sappiest of holidays.

St. Valentine is Not Alone

There are actually twelve St. Valentines (or Valentinus, if you prefer the Latin) recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.  The most popular story about the man who’s name has come to mean love is that he defied orders from the Emperor not to allow men to marry during wartime.  He was locked up, fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and wrote her a note, singing it “from your Valentine.”  Then he was executed.

Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve

You’ve heard that expression, right?  It came about back in medieval times when people would draw names to see who their Valentine would be and wear the names on their sleeves for a week.

Roses are Red…

Red roses were the preferred flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.  If it’s good enough for the goddess of love, it’s good enough for your sweetheart, too.

The Economy LOVES Valentine’s Day

Americans spent almost $19 billion (that’s billion with a B) on Valentine’s Day.  That includes $52 million on flowers and $14 million on going out to eat and going to the movies.

It’s Not Just for People

People spend over $360 million dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets.

Valentine’s Day is a Sweet Holiday

An estimated 58 million pounds, that’s 29,000 tons, of chocolate is bought for Valentine’s Day.  Not to be outdone, 8 billion Sweethearts are bought every year, and of course most of that is sold for Valentine’s Day.

The First Box of Chocolate

Speaking of chocolate, the first Valentine’s Day boxes of chocolate were produced by Richard Cadbury.  I’m partial to his Easter offerings.

Fellas, Get it Together

Women buy about 85{66506b27ca8f5234034d808fc0aabc14bc16ceb45d71027974b073b60f711cfe} of all Valentine’s Day gifts.  15{66506b27ca8f5234034d808fc0aabc14bc16ceb45d71027974b073b60f711cfe} of women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.

Will You Marry Me?

Every year, almost a quarter of a million wedding proposals take place on Valentine’s Day.

Get It On

If you know anyone who was born in early to mid-November, they may have been a Valentine’s Day baby.  85{66506b27ca8f5234034d808fc0aabc14bc16ceb45d71027974b073b60f711cfe} of people say that it’s important to have sex on Valentine’s Day.

 

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