History Lesson
The most popular story about how Valentine’s Day started takes us all the way back to the Roman Empire. It is said that in 270 A.D. Bishop Valentine began performing secret weddings after the emperor, Claudius II, banned marriage because he thought single, unattached men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine was put in jail for and was finally executed on Feb. 14. Before he died, Valentine wrote a note to the jailor’s daughter, who he had fallen in love with, professing his love and signing it, “From your Valentine.” And that, the story goes, is why we give “Valentines” to the people we love today.
Fun Facts About Chocolate
- Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800s.
- More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.
- Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
Fun Facts About Roses
- 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day.
- Most roses sold on Valentine’s Day in the U.S. are imported from South America.
- Approximately 110 million roses, will be sold within the three-day Valentine’s Day time period.
Fun Facts About Valentine’s Day Cards
- Women purchase 85 percent of all valentines.
- Teachers will receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.