The love bug is back!
The origins of Valentine’s Day date all the way back to the middle ages, when a saint named Valentine signed a card saying, “Farewell from your Valentine.” Centuries later, the day became a time for romantic love to be expressed and this included giving your loved ones chocolates, flowers and cards.
Many feel that Valentine’s Day has become too commercialized and a way for businesses to make money. But for those that believe in true love, it is an open, romantic gesture.
Many who find themselves single on this love-stricken holiday find new ways to celebrate. Some focus on loving their family, friends and pets. Whole others have dubbed this day “Single’s Awareness Day (SAD)” or “Anti-Valentine’s Day,” with festivities including beating up heart-shaped piñatas!
And remember, on February 15, chocolate will be half the price!
Here are some fun facts that you might have not known about Valentine’s Day:
- Red roses are the staple flower of love because the letters of the word “rose” spell Eros, the god of love, when rearranged.
- Every Valentine’s Day, the city of Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.
- Around eight billion candy hearts are manufactured each year
- Every rose colour has a special meaning. Red implies love and respect, white indicates purity and pink means “I am having sweet thoughts about you.”
- The amount of flowers in a bouquet also has an underlying message; one stands for love at first sight, 12 means, “I love you,” 108 are recommended for marriage proposals and 999 translates to “we’ll always be together.”
How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year?