We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. There’s a super interesting history behind the most romantic day of the year. When February 14 rolls around, lovers and friends exchange letters, chocolates, jewelry and other gifts target valentine’s day gifts for him honor of Valentine’s Day.
If you find yourself wondering about the origins of this February holiday — and its candy-filled traditions — you’ll want to check out these fascinating Valentine’s Day facts, which offer a deeper look into the age-old celebration. You may already know that Valentine’s Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there’s actually some confusion surrounding which St. Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.
Valentine’s Day has its roots in an ancient Pagan festival. Though some historians believe that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. In the 1300s, it officially became a holiday associated with love. At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of February 14 “St. It wasn’t until until the Middle Ages, though, that the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14. Cupid has its roots in Greek mythology. He’s the charming cherub that appears on Valentine’s Day cards, often depicted with a bow and arrow — but how did Cupid become a common symbol of Valentine’s Day?
The first valentine was sent in the 15th century. The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History. Not until the 1840s did we get the first mass-produced valentines. People started exchanging cards and handwritten letters to both lovers and friends during the 17th century, but it was in the 1840s that the first Valentine’s Day cards were mass-produced in the U. The tradition of giving Valentine’s Day flowers dates back to the 17th century. Giving red roses may be an obvious romantic gesture today, but it wasn’t until the late 17th century that giving flowers became a popular custom.
Today, Americans spend a lot on love. Americans send 145 million Valentine’s Day cards each year. And they also spend millions of dollars on gifts for their pets. Hey, furry friends need love, too! The Valentine’s Day gift that people spend the most on is jewelry.