Valentine's Day 2023: Five Fascinating Facts You Should Know About the Celebration of Love
Valentine's Day: Discovering the Unknown Facts About the Celebration of Love
Valentine's Day, the day of love, is celebrated worldwide and couples are eager to make it a memorable one with their partners. Every year on February 14th, people exchange gifts, propose to their crush, plan date nights, and spend quality time with one another. The festivities of this day are celebrated globally, but not everyone is aware of the underlying reasons behind them. To shed light on this special occasion, let us take a look at some fascinating and little-known facts about Valentine's Day.
- St. Valentine Was Not Just One Person
Many of us know that Valentine's Day was named after St. Valentine, but what most people are unaware of is that there were actually two men named Valentine who may have been the reason for the celebration of this day.
- The Origins of Cupid Lie in Greek Mythology
The cupid that we see on Valentine's Day cards with a bow and arrow is known as Cupid. Its roots can be traced back to 700 B.C. when it was known as Eros, the Greek god of love. Eros was a handsome and immortal man who had the power to make people fall in love. In the 4th century, Romans transformed Eros into a cute little boy with a bow and arrow and named him Cupid.
- The First Valentine Was Sent in the 15th Century
The oldest Valentine's Day poem was written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. While being imprisoned in the Tower of London at the age of 21, he wrote a sweet note to his lover. One of the lines in the poem? "I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine."
- The Tradition of Valentine's Day Dates Back to the 17th Century
Nowadays, red roses and red hearts are synonymous with Valentine's Day, but it wasn't always the case. The tradition of giving flowers began in the 17th century when Charles II of Sweden learned the language of flowers, which pairs different flowers with specific meanings. This act of giving flowers became popular during the Victorian Era on Valentine's Day.
- Around 250 Million Roses Are Grown for Valentine's Day
We are all familiar with buying red roses, especially on Valentine's Day, to gift to our loved ones. To meet the demands of this grand celebration of love, countries like Ecuador, Kenya, and Columbia ship millions of roses around the world. Flowers are a common way to show love and affection, and the red roses are especially popular on this special day.