Interesting Facts About Valentine That Not Everyone Knows

Valentine’s Day, also known as Lovers’ Day, is a special occasion celebrated by people around the world to honor love. Below are some interesting facts about Valentine’s Day that not everyone may know.

Origins of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to lovers worldwide, has little-known origins. Many legends surround the inception of this romantic holiday.

The first legend tells of a story that occurred in 269 AD. In a far-off land, there was a tyrannical emperor who wanted to prohibit young men and women from falling in love. However, no matter what he did, a priest named Valentine continued to unite lovers. The emperor ordered the execution of this priest to deter others. On the day of his execution, the priest left a brief note for the girl he loved, thanking her for the friendship and love she had given him. He signed it “From your Valentine.” This message was written on February 14. Henceforth, February 14 became known as Valentine’s Day, symbolizing the truth that “love is eternal” and nothing can separate love.

The second legend takes us to Rome in 270 AD, where a bishop named Valentino di Interamna was a friend of Emperor Claudius II. During Emperor Claudius II’s reign, Rome engaged in many bloody wars and was not supported by the people. Claudius faced difficulties in calling young men to join his legion. He believed that the main reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their families or loved ones. Thus, Claudius canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Bishop Valentino, along with Saint Marius, secretly helped lovers to marry. For this act of kindness, Saint Valentino was imprisoned, dragged before the Roman governor, and stoned to death before being beheaded on February 14, 270 AD.

The Traditional Heart Symbol of Valentine’s Day

15% of women buy flowers for themselves on Valentine’s Day.

The traditional heart symbol representing love has origins in ancient times, and it is not as romantic or sweet as many might think. The perfect heart image for Valentine’s Day derives from a rare herb called Silphium, a member of the Giant Fennel family. This plant was often used to prepare spicy dishes and as a contraceptive. Today, Silphium is nearly extinct, with many believing the last specimen was served as dinner to the emperor during the reign of Emperor Nero, documented by Pliny. People recognized the image of its seed through the depiction on coins from the region of Cyrene. Silphium was a very popular herb in ancient times and is now almost extinct.

Besides its contraceptive properties, Silphium was also rumored to stimulate sexual desire. In both cases, it was considered a reliable friend for lovers. Images of Silphium in ancient texts show that its fruit resembled a heart, leading to associations between the heart shape and love and romance among young lovers. Additionally, it was used in daily meals. The flower stalk could be roasted, dried, or boiled for consumption like a vegetable. Its roots were mixed into vinegar and eaten raw… It also served as a perfect preservative for lentils, and when fed to sheep, the meat had a delightful flavor.

Valentine’s Day Gifts

Among those who buy flowers on Valentine’s Day, 73% are men and 27% are women. In the United States, about 15% of women buy flowers for themselves on Valentine’s Day. It is estimated that around 190 million Valentine cards are sent each year in the U.S., according to the Greeting Card Association.

The Meaning of Roses on Valentine’s Day

Red roses are the favorite flowers of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The buds symbolize strong romantic feelings. Thus, images of roses are very popular during the lovers’ holiday.

• Red – The passionate love of one person for another. It signifies intense and ardent love.
• Pink – True love associated with purity. A gentle, tender love. A promise of love.
• Yellow – Some believe yellow roses symbolize infidelity, while others see them as a sign of affection without certainty of return.
• White – White signifies pure, innocent, noble, and elegant love, often interpreted as “silent love.”
• Lavender – Represents love at first sight.
• Red and White – The combination of red and white roses symbolizes the union of two people.

The Rules for Giving Roses on Valentine’s Day

As mentioned above, each color of rose has a unique meaning of love, but it’s essential not only to understand their meanings but also to follow the rules for gifting them to your partner to express your love fully. Here are some rules to keep in mind:

• Choose an odd number, such as 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 roses if you are gifting fewer than 10.
• To express gratitude to your partner for their love, gift 12 roses.
• If you want to show your gallantry, give her 24 roses.
• If you want to confess your feelings through these sweet roses, consider giving her 36 roses or simply one rose to express your love for her.

The Most Valentine Cards Received

According to a survey by a newspaper in the U.S., the individuals who receive the most Valentine cards are teachers, followed by children, mothers, and wives. This indicates that, during Valentine’s Day, women are favored just as much as they are on special days like Mother’s Day or International Women’s Day.

The First Person to Send a Valentine Card

The first person to send a Valentine card was a French man named Charles, Count of Orleans. He was imprisoned for 25 years in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. During his imprisonment, he sent his wife a Valentine poem expressing his love and longing; however, the Countess had passed away before the letter reached her.

Why Give Chocolate on Valentine’s Day?

Chocolate became a gift for Valentine’s Day starting in 1902. One of the slogans embossed on the chocolate bars was “Be Mine.” Tasting a piece of chocolate allows you to experience its bitter, sweet, and rich flavors… Similar to how love can be sweet or bitter, but it always brings joy to those who experience it. Chocolate has transcended being just a food item, as it provides an incredible feeling that words can hardly express.

Typical Valentine’s Day Gifts Through the Ages

In the late 20th century, typical Valentine’s Day gifts included roses and chocolates wrapped in red satin boxes shaped like hearts. However, by the 1980s, diamonds began to be promoted by the diamond industry as an appropriate and valuable gift for this sweet day.

Heart-Shaped Candy Was Originally a Medical Lozenge

Heart-shaped candy is a beloved treat for many, but not everyone knows that it originally stemmed from the medical field. In 1847, pharmacist Oliver Chase in Boston, USA, invented a machine that simplified the production of heart-shaped medical lozenges, and later he shifted his focus to the candy business.

Red Valentine

The traditional Valentine’s Day on February 14 is also known as Red Valentine. Additionally, young people around the world have “added” another Valentine’s Day. Of course, both are “related” to love.

Black Valentine

Do not misunderstand the term “Black” in Black Valentine, which occurs every April 14, as a symbol of an unpleasant day. On the contrary, it is a special day for young people in South Korea. Singles also have their own Valentine, which is celebrated on April 14 each year.

This day is considered a time for lonely individuals to gather in a house, dressed in black, to enjoy traditional Jajangmyeon noodles (noodles with black bean sauce) and share their misfortunes in love.

White Valentine

White Valentine, also known as White Day, occurs one month after Valentine’s Day, on March 14. White Day originated in Japan.

Love is a powerful feeling that is hard to express. It seems that we love each other more after sweet dreams, making one day of Valentine feel insufficient. Therefore, in Japan, the land of the rising sun, White Day was born and quickly embraced by young people everywhere, including Vietnam.

The origin of White Day dates back to 1965 in Japan, when a boy selling marshmallows wanted to reciprocate the affection of a girl who secretly loved him on Red Valentine, so he gifted her a large box of snow-white candy. This is the story behind White Day.

As the youth are always fresh and new every day, it seems that love grows deeper after sweet dreams, leading to the realization that one day of Valentine is not enough. This is an opportunity for boys to reciprocate the feelings of girls.

Valentine’s Day in Various Countries

In Vietnam, Valentine was introduced and embraced around 2008, with many couples choosing to hold their weddings on this charming holiday. Additionally, a mass kissing contest was organized in Da Lat on this day. However, in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and some others following Islam, celebrations related to Valentine’s Day are prohibited, including red roses, as they believe the holiday has a negative impact (encouraging extramarital relationships).

In Japan, on Valentine’s Day, there is a tradition called giri-choko, where women give chocolate to men, as “giri” means obligation and “choko” means chocolate. Then, on the 14th of the following month, on White Valentine, men are obliged to gift women—those who showed them care on traditional Valentine’s Day—and these gifts are typically white.

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