Did you know 25% of people forget Valentine’s day?
The most important day for love and one in four forget it. We couldn’t believe it when we read that statistic and so we’ve pulled up some more interesting facts.
1. The first Valentine’s Day celebration.
Saint Valentine’s Day first took place in the year, 496. But why the 14th? It’s because Valentine (who was a priest) was imprisoned in Rome because he was marrying people against the Emperor’s instructions (Claudius the 2nd). Valentine fell in love with his jailor’s daughter and when he was sentenced to death, he sent her a love letter on the 14th February. The very day he was taken to be executed. There are other stories about where it came from but this is our favourite!
2. Over 1 billion greeting cards are exchanged every year on Valentine’s Day.
With 145 million in the U.S. alone, according to Hallmark!
3. About 20 percent of pet owners give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.
Dogs seem to be the most loved with cats a close second. Everything from extra treats to a new dog coat. So one in five get their pets something but one in four forget their human soul mate! Shocking!
4. Sweet hearts were originally medical lozenges.
In 1847, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine to simplify the process of making lozenges. So those love hearts maybe truly do mend a broken heart.
5. 8 billion love hearts are manufactured each year.
Some of the romantic sayings include: LIVE N LOVE, DREAM BIG, BEST DAY, and BE HAPPY.
6. In the US $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day.
And don’t forget we sell Artisan chocolates to go with your flowers – both delivered for free on the big day when you spend over £35 on flowers.
7. The heart shape wasn’t always a romantic symbol.
The heart symbol we all recognise today only developed to mean ‘love’ in the 15th century. Prior to that, as long ago as the fifth century, the symbol was more aligned to foliage, like depicting ivy for example.
8. The chocolate box has been around for more than 150 years.
Around 1850, the Cadbury brothers created the first box of chocolates. A decade later, they created the first heart-shaped box.
9. Lovebirds are actual birds.
The term “lovebirds” is often used to describe a couple in love, but it’s also the common name for the Agapornis bird.
10. The first valentine was sent in the 15th century.
The first valentine was reportedly a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415.
11. Every year, thousands of people send Valentine letters to Juliet.
The letters are addressed to Verona to Juliet from the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
12. Teachers are the number one recipient of Valentines.
And why not when they teach the young generation about life and love.
13. 250 million roses are grown just for Valentine’s Day!
Red roses are said to be Venus’ (the Roman goddess of love) favourite flower.
14. Chocolates didn’t always represent love.
Doctors in times gone by would recommend chocolate to people who were suffering from a broken heart, not a bad prescription and one we wouldn’t mind paying for!
And finally…
Have you ever wondered what to get a florist on Valentine’s day? Hmmm….
