Valentine’s Day history stretches beyond roses and heart-shaped candy. The holiday is packed with quirky traditions, surprising history, and fascinating statistics about romance. Celebrated every February 14, this holiday blends medieval poetry, ancient Roman festivals, and modern marketing into one romantic stew. From the billions spent on gifts each year to the surprising origins of conversation hearts, Valentine’s Day reveals so much about our romance culture. Whether you adore this holiday or roll your eyes at the pink and red tsunami in stores, these eight fun facts might change how you see this celebration of love.
8 Valentine’s Day Facts
1. The ancient Romans held a much bloodier love celebration called Lupercalia. (Source)
The Romans celebrated between February 13 and 15 in a festival they believed would raise fertility. It included a matchmaking lottery that was, unfortunately, more brutal than it sounds, along with animal sacrifice and lots of drunken revels.
2. The poet Chaucer helped transform Valentine’s Day into a day of romance. (Source)
Chaucer and his friend and fellow poet, Oton III de Granson, wrote Valentine’s Day poems celebrating love, helping King Richard II move the holiday away from its pagan roots. The poem “The Parliament of Fowls” conveys love, romance, and the pursuit of a partner in birds’ mating.
3. Cupid became a symbol of love in the Rococo art style. (Source)
This art style was inherently romantic, with soft pastel colors illustrating pastoral scenes. Cupid was a winged angel often paired with shepherds and shepherdesses to illustrate an idealized image of romantic love.
4. Modern marketers see Valentine’s Day as a big opportunity. (Source)
There may be a lot of spending on Valentine’s Day in the modern era, but it’s still an emotional holiday at its core. And marketers know this! They encourage brands to take a personal, grateful approach to their messaging, paired with a push for thoughtful gift purchasing.
5. Americans spend billions of dollars on Valentine’s gifts. (Source)
While Americans are willing to spend heavily to treat their sweethearts, loved ones, and even themselves, spending also increases as vendors like florists raise prices in anticipation of the holiday.
6. 44% of Americans share their love with candy on Valentine’s Day. (Source)
It seems food is a powerful love language. Greeting cards, flowers, and evenings out are popular too, but chocolate is the most popular.
7. 69% of Americans think a pet name strengthens their relationship. (Source)
This proves that you don’t have to spend a lot to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Sweet gestures can make all the difference. On the flip side of this statistic, one in four Americans think there’s a problem in their relationship if their partner doesn’t use their pet name!
8. While Valentine’s Day boosts satisfaction in some couples, it puts strain on couples already on a downward spiral. (Source)
While Valentine’s Day prompts people to show attention and love to their partners, putting them in a romantic mindset, unhappy couples often feel excessive pressure and are more likely to break up on this holiday.
Featured image photo credit: alleksana
