Valentine’s Day — some love it, some hate it, some are utterly indifferent to it. Regardless of your stance, here are six facts that you might not know about the history of the February 14th holiday.
Learn something new, tell someone you love them and are grateful for them, and have a very Happy Valentine’s Day!
1- February 14th hasn’t always been about cutie couples…
Some historians believe that Valentine's Day began in Rome by being a pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia. This “festival” included animal sacrifices and the whipping of women to signify their fertility. What the actual heck??!?
2- Pope Gelasius to the rescue…
In the 1300s, Roman Pope Geasius officially declared February 14th as “Valentine's Day” and started associated the day with love (not whipping and bleeding...thank you very much!), because it was believed that birds start mating season each year on the 14th of February.
3- Time to get romantic…
The very first valentine was sent in the 1400s, a poem from a French medieval duke named Charles, written to his wife. Although he was imprisoned in the Tower of London while he penned the poem, he brought the romance… One of the lines in his letter read:
"I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine." So sweet! And so 15-century, too 😉
4- Let’s jump ahead a few (hundred) years…
Individuals began exchanging handwritten cards to both romantic partners and friends during the 17th century. BUT it wasn’t until the 1840s until the first Valentine’s Day cards were mass-produced in the USA. The “mother of the american valentine,” also known as Esther A. Howland, is known as the one who commercialized Valentine's day cards in America. I miss being exchanging them as a kid with classmates 💌
5- These days…
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is a widely-celebrated holiday, with nearly 55 % of Americans celebrating on February 14th each year. And, get this, nearly 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day. That’s a lot of people popping the question on the same day! ♥️
6- Depending on who you are and where you’re at…
Valentine’s Day is celebrated very differently in various parts of the world. Lots of Latin American countries call the holiday, “el día de los enamorados” (day of lovers) or “día del amor y la amistad” (day of love and friendship). How wonderful is that!
In Japan, it’s more widespread for women to give chocolates and gifts on February 14th, and exactly a month later, on March 14th, men “repay” the favor and celebrate women with gift-giving and more.
And so…
Wherever you are, and however you celebrate, here at Huntress Florals, we wish you a fun, safe, and enjoyable Valentine’s Day! May your February 14th be full of lots of love, friendship, gratitude, simple pleasures, and of course beautiful flowers, too! 💐 XOXO