Love is in the air! In just two days, St. Valentine’s Day will be upon us! Not only is it a day to cheer for romantic love, but to express affection for our families, friends, and pets, too. February 14th is often celebrated by giving presents of cards, candy, and flowers. While I can’t give you any of these gifts, I can offer you some FUN FACTS about this sugar-coated holiday. I hope you like reading them, as much as I enjoy sharing them!
Hallmark Cards, the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States, creates and prints more than 1,400 Valentine’s Day card designs each year. Wow! With all of these options, there’s sure to be a suitable card for everyone on your list.
Arizona and Oregon became states on St. Valentine’s Day. Arizona in 1912 and Oregon in 1859. Ah, sweet statehood!
Paris, France is where the first official Valentine’s Day celebration took place in the 1400s. Joyeuse saint Valentin!
Pope Gelasius I designated February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day at end of the 5th century. Since then, it has been a day of celebration, although it was more religious than romantic until centuries later.
You may be in 25% of all pet owners, if you give a Valentine’s Day present to your beloved dog, cat, or bird. Valentines are not just for people anymore!
So many conversation hearts! Did you know that 8 billion are manufactured by the Spangler Candy Company of Ohio each year? That’s a whole lot of “You Rock”, “QT Pie” and “Hug Me” candies to share.
The Cadbury Company founded by John Cadbury created the first box of milk chocolates around 1850, but it wasn’t until ten years later that his eldest son, Richard Cadbury came up with the idea of selling heart-shaped boxes. What a genius marketing idea!
Volunteers in Verona, Italy have the fun task of responding each year to hundreds of letters written by people all over the world to Juliet, the star-crossed lover of Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”. This group of do-gooders is appropriately named the Juliet Club!
About 80% of Americans will buy gifts, cards, or treats for a loved one in honor of Valentine’s Day. Hope you’re the recipient of (at least) one!
Lovebirds, the term used to describe happy couples, are actual birds. Their common name is Agapornises and is derived from the birds’ strong and monogamous bond.
Esther Howland also known as the “Mother of the American Valentine” was the first to sell mass-produced valentines in the 1840s. Her dad, Southward Howland had a stationery shop in Worcester, Massachusetts and being the crafty card maker that she was, one February she decided to sell her fancy schmanzy cards adorned with ribbons and lace to his customers. While Esther’s cards were ornate, the messages in them were more humorous than romantic.
Nearly 145 million greeting cards are exchanged in the U.S. each year on Valentine’s Day. Worldwide it’s over 1 billion! Now that’s a lot of love going around and around!
Teachers receive more valentines than anyone else including wives, moms, and even kids! And I’d like to add, for all their hard work they truly deserve them!
In the 1800s, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine to simplify the process of making medicinal lozenges. Later on, this machine was used to make heart-shaped candy with messages printed on them. How fun!
Not only has eating dark chocolate been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, it was once prescribed by doctors to mend a broken heart. Now that’s medicine I wouldn’t mind taking.
Except for Mother’s Day, the busiest day for florists is…you guessed it, St. Valentine’s Day! But did you know that 250 million roses are grown for this holiday alone? That’s blooming amazing!
Saint Valentine’s identity isn’t certain. The Catholic Church recognizes three different Saint Valentines, or Valentinus. Each one of them was martyred and could have inspired the February 14th holiday. Eenie, meenie, miney, moe.
During the Victorian era, people who wanted to discourage unwanted suitors, would send them “vinegar valentines”. These were intended to insult inappropriate admirers. Awful, indeed!
Alexander Graham Bell filed his patent for the telephone on Valentine’s Day. Did you hear that?
You can enjoy the February 14th spirit all year long if you happen to live in the town of Valentine in Arizona, Nebraska, Texas, or Virginia. How very lovely!
From my journal: January 22, 2024, Newbury Park, California
“My valentine’s cards arrived…can’t wait to write them out and send them…always fun!”
Wishing you all a Happy St. Valentine’s Day! May you enjoy the warmth of love, the comfort of laughter, and the richness of a little chocolate! Sweet…how very sweet!
A Journal Journey 