Today, Nigerians and the rest of the globe celebrate Valentine’s Day, a holiday dedicated to love and romance.
Every year on February 14, children and adults alike shower their friends and loved ones with presents ranging from sweet sentiments on cards to chocolates, long-stemmed red flowers, expensive jewelry, and more.
It’s a once-a-year event that’s frequently billed as a massive corporate scam. Valentine’s Day, on the other hand, is far more than a Hallmark event.
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Despite the popularity of this love feast, Anaedoonline.ng realizes that many people still do not have a thorough grasp of it.
Here are a few Valentine’s Day facts you probably didn’t know.
1. It has a lot of dark roots.
According to historians, Valentine’s Day originated in Ancient Rome as Lupercalia, a pagan fertility celebration that involved animal sacrifices and flogging women with animal skins until they bled, indicating their fertility. It’s very lovely.
2. It became a festival connected with love and passion in the 1300s.
The event was Christianized (no more animal sacrifices! ), and it was observed in mid-February because many people thought that birds began mating season on February 14, which is why doves are typically connected with love.
3. Saint Valentine was more than a single individual.
He may have been two or three years old. Saint Valentine, who defied Emperor Claudius II, is the most common “founder” of Valentine’s Day. Claudius had forbidden marriage at the time because he believed it distracted young troops. Valentine, on the other hand, had a different perspective: he unlawfully married couples until he was arrested.
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Young couples would visit his cell after he was sentenced to death and leave him flowers and cards.
And what about the day he died? 14th of February Allegedly.
Throughout history, however, there have been several St. Valentines, including one pope.
(In 827 A.D., he only served for 40 days.)
4. In the 15th century, the first valentines were sent.
But not until the 17th century did people start exchanging cards and letters. And Valentine’s Day cards weren’t mass-produced until the 1840s.
5. Today, it’s a pretty big business
About 55% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day and spend an estimated $18.2 billion a year, including more than $1.7 billion on candy alone. On average, men spend $150 on Valentine’s Day. And the women? Just $74. Step it up, ladies!
6. The most popular gift on Valentine’s Day is flowers
Followed by chocolate and then jewelry. Americans send more than 220 million roses each year, and as many as six million couples will get engaged on February 14. (February is the second most popular month after December for proposals.)
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7. The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1868
Today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate.
8. Necco Sweethearts — a.k.a. conversation hearts — were invented in 1866.
Each box has approximately 45 sayings — including “True Love,” “Hug Me,” and “You Rock” — but you can personalize your own, too. And about 10 new sayings are added each year.
9. More than 8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year
And Necco has to start making them just days after February 14 to have enough in time for the next Valentine’s Day. That’s almost 100,000 pounds per day. But don’t worry if you still have last year’s box — they have a shelf life of five years.
10. Apparently, condom sales rise in February
Sales are almost 20% to 30% higher around Valentine’s Day. And maybe not so surprisingly, more at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than any other month.
11. Lace is commonly used in Valentine’s Day decorations
It comes from the Latin lacques, which means to snare or to net, as in catch a person’s heart.
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12. It’s celebrated differently around the world
Many Latin American countries know the holiday as el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship.)
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