My Darling Valentine

Sitting here doing research for marketing on the up coming holidays and I found this Valentines Day trivia.

YVALENTINE’S DAY TRIVIA AND SUPERSTITIONSY

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.

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.

Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seed that remain on the stem, and that is the number of children you will have.

Or, cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you can also tell how many children you will have.

 

Hallmark has over 1330 different cards specifically for Valentine's Day. Source: Hallmark.com

 

Some men still believe in chivalry. 91% of men open doors for women. Source: eHarlequin.com

89 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day period. Source: Roses Incorporated

 

The first valentine was sent by St. Valentine himself, on the eve of his execution. It was signed "from your Valentine," and was a note of appreciation to the jailer's daughter, who had brough him food and delivered messages.

 

70% of those who celebrate Valentine's Day give a card; 49% call thier sweethearts; 48% give a gift; 37% cook a special dinner; 33% give candy; 30% go out to dinner; and 19% give flowers. Source: CNN Love Zone

 

A love seat is a wide chair that was first created for women and their wide dresses and petticoats. It was later made wider so that courting couples could sit together. Source: CNN Love Zone

 

46% of women think a good nights rest is better than sex. 68% of men disagree. Source: eHarlequin.com

 

15% of  women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.

 

More than 50 percent of cards are sold the week of the holiday, with the largest and most elaborate Valentine cards sold 48 hours before February 14.

 

In the United States, 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with their sweethearts.

 

The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

 

About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.

During the late 1800s, postage rates around the world dropped, and the obscene St. Valentine's Day card became popular, despite the Victorian era being otherwise very prudish. As the numbers of racy valentines grew, several countries banned the practice of exchanging Valentine's Days cards. During this period, post office rejected more than 25,000 cards on the grounds that they were so indecent; they were not fit to be carried through the mail.

During the Middle Ages, the belief that birds chose their mates on St. Valentine's Day led to the idea that boys and girls would do the same.

In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine's Day card.

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!"

It wasn't until 1537 that St. Valentine's Day was declared an official holiday. England's King Henry VIII declared February 14th a holiday.

The 17th century a hopeful maiden ate a hard-boiled egg and pinned five bay leaves to her pillow before going to sleep on Valentine's eve. It was believed this would make her dream of her future husband.