Fun Facts about Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day, like Christmas and Easter, comes around annually. Unlike the great winter festival of trees, peppermint, reindeer and Santa Claus however, thankfully Valentine’s preparations don’t begin 4-6 weeks in advance. Nonetheless, lovers around the globe do seem to become quite frantic over proving their affections each year....

Here are some fascinating past and present international Valentine’s Day traditions:

Australia: During the gold rush, miners who had made their fortunes at the Ballarat Mines purchased some exceptionally expensive and beautiful gifts for their ladies. These included embroidered satin cushions trimmed with seashells and flowers, and taxidermied hummingbirds or birds of paradise perched on top, all fitted into ornate boxes!

Canada: While we Canadians of course celebrate with cards and chocolates and even gift certificates for the local spa (or more recently in Edmonton, the “do it yourself” spa has become quite popular), a truly delightful custom exists among the children. In many schools Valentine’s Day parties are held, and kids place their valentines and gifts to each other in a decorative box; the teacher then distributes the presents. Children are also encouraged to make homemade valentines, and their creativity is further engaged in plays and concerts.

Denmark: Long ago, lovers gave cards which were actually transparencies showing a man giving a present to his lady. Nowadays, lovers write poems and exchange these for candied snowdrops, and sometimes even write humorous love notes called gaekkebrev, (joking letters). The lover’s name is written in tiny dots, and if you guess the name correctly, you will then receive a special candy egg the following Easter.

Italy: Centuries ago Valentine’s Day was a lovely spring festival held in gardens, where music was played, poetry read and lover’s strolls encouraged. In Turin, they used to decorate the shops elaborately a week in advance and hand make all sorts of bon-bons and confections, and couples would use February 14 as a day to officially announce their engagement. Today, over one thousand letters a year are sent each Valentine’s Day to the city of Verona, the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The letters are actually addressed to Juliet, who, although a fictional character has nevertheless become a sort of lover’s guardian angel in the hearts of many. Although most are sent around Valentine’s Day, many of these letters are sent during other times of the year, asking for Juliet’s prayers and intercessions in troubled and “forbidden” relationships, and a group of dedicated volunteers make a huge effort to answer each and every one of them. A recent and wonderful film entitled Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, depicts this romantic endeavor perfectly.

Japan: What began as a marketing gimmick by the local chocolate manufacturers is now simply the way the Japanese celebrate Valentine’s Day. On February 14, it is the men who receive presents and chocolates from women! In return, on March 14 (which is called White Day), men give their ladies flowers and chocolates in return.

Scotland: The Scots celebrate with a unique festival, in which single young men and women are gathered. Each must write their name on a small paper, and these are placed into two gender specific hats. The men and women then draw the names out of the hats, and while they may actually end up having two different valentines as a result, the men must stay with the girls who have chosen them. Gifts, dances and sometimes even marriages ensue! The ladies all wear the name of their valentine on their sleeves or over their hearts. Classic Scottish Valentine’s presents are “true love knots” or love tokens, and in some parts they believe that the first young woman or man who walks by you by pure chance will be your valentine.

Other interesting and random facts:

-         Perhaps the most commonly recognized figure on valentine cards is Cupid. Known in ancient Greek mythology as Eros, son of Aphrodite, and in Roman myths as Cupid, son of Venus, he is depicted as a chubby and adorable but mischievous child who shoots arrows of love into the hearts of unsuspecting men and women.

-         Did you know that it is customary for ladies to propose to men on Valentine’s Day when it falls during a leap year?

-         Penicillin, perhaps the most important and life-saving antibiotic ever discovered, was first unveiled on February 14, 1929.

-         Sadly, 15 percent of American women purchase flowers for themselves on Valentine’s Day, as 64 percent of US men have no clue what to give their loved ones.

-         An endearing and modern Valentine’s custom now involves pet owners buying heart shaped treats for their furry friends, and there are even cards which say “From the cat” or “From the dog” which pets “give” to their masters!

-         Finally, while the number one holiday for mailing and/or emailing cards is still Christmas, Valentine’s Day is number two, with over one billion cards exchanged every year!