~ Valentine's Day Facts ~
 Did You Know . . .
There are two stories of Saint Valentine
 . . . The reason for St. Valentine's fame in one story is that he broke Roman law and married people in secret. |
Christian legend says that Valentine's Day is the Feast of St. Valentine.
In 270 A.D., the Roman Emperor Claudius II did not want any marriages to take place during wartime. He believed married men made poor soldiers. But Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed wedding ceremonies. Valentine was jailed and then executed on February 14, by order of the Emperor. Hence, the name and celebration of love on February 14.
. . . In another story he was a priest that also cared for the sick.
In this story he was executed merely for his beliefs.
In either case on the day he was to be executed (February 14) he had a visitor and gave her a note to reassure her that said "from your Valentine" -- this seems to be the orgin of the tradition.
Approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each year. Half of those are sent through Care2 (OK, maybe not HALF... or even half of half... but we are growing fast!)
In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to: teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts, Koko the gorilla.
The expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve" comes from a Valentine's Day party tradition. Young women would write their names on slips of paper to be drawn by young men. A man would then wear a woman's name on his sleeve to claim her as his valentine.
People also believed that birds began mating on February 14.
The idea of lovebirds soon became associated with Saint Valentine, and the custom of sending cards or small gifts on his feast day is centuries' old.
As for the heart-shape cards: Since ancient times, the heart has symbolized love, both human and divine.
15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
The record for the most couples kissing at once is 1600.
Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday in the United States.
In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th.
Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, 'You unlock my heart!'
Red roses are the single most popular flower to give on Valentine's Day. Although they may all look the same to the untrained eye, it is said that, there are actually more than 900 varieties of dark-red and medium-red rose.
Chinese Valentine's Day is not celebrated on February 14, but on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year it will be August 25. |
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~ Beliefs relating Valentine's Day ~Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was: Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine---
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine. |
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In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!" In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling. |
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In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him. |
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Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.
A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together -- but not too closely! |
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Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off. |
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Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have. If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.
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