Valentine’s Day

1. Valentine’s Day

2. Valentine’s Day • Saint Valentine’s Day is commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day. • It falls every year on the 14th of February. • It is a day where people show their love for each other, often with gifts, cards and flowers. • It is observed in many countries worldwide.

3. History • Saint Valentine’s Day was originally observed to honour two Christian martyrs, Valentine of Rome (died around 269AD) and Valentine of Terni (died around 197AD). • There was no connection with Saint Valentine’s Day and romance until the 1300s.

4. The connection was first made when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem for the engagement of King Richard II of England on 14th February which read “For this is Saint Valentine’s Day, When every bird chooses his mate.” • From then on Saint Valentine’s Day appeared with romantic connections, especially in literature. • It is mentioned in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, written in 1600.

5. Modern Valentine’s Day • Traditions for modern Valentine’s Day started in the 1800s. • Printers began to print a limited amount of cards and new, low postal rates saw people sending them anonymously in the post. • By the mid 1800s cards were being made in large quantities in factories as they were so popular.

6. From around the mid 1900s people also started giving gifts as well as cards for Valentine’s Day such as chocolates, roses, stuffed toys and jewellery. • In the UK it is estimated that 1.3 billion pounds are spent on Valentine’s Day cards and gifts and that 25 million cards are sent.

8. Valentine’s Day around the World • In Wales it is more common to celebrate Saint Dwynwen’s Day as he is the patron Saint of Love in Wales. • In France and Spain the day is called Saint Valentin and San Valentín respectively and is much the same as in the UK. • In Portugal it is more commonly know as Dia dos Namorados.

9. In Finland the Finnish translates to ‘Friends Day’ and the day is more about being grateful for your friends. • In much of Latin America the day is called ‘Day of Love and Friendship’ and it is common to do things that show your appreciation for your friends. Friends often give secret gifts to each other. • In much of Asia women give chocolates to men and not the other way round.

10. Valentine’s Day Facts • The red rose was the favourite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The colour red stands for strong romantic feelings making the red rose the flower of love. • Cupid is a symbol of Valentine's Day. Cupid was the son of Venus. Cupid often appears on Valentine holding a bow and arrows as he is believed to use magical arrows to make people fall in love. • Over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year. • Every year around 1 billion Valentine cards are sent. After Christmas it's the biggest card-sending occasion of the year.

11. Verona, the Italian city where Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters every year sent to Juliet on Valentine's Day. • More than 9 million people will buy cards or gifts for their pets for Valentine’s Day. • 36 million boxes of heart shaped chocolates were sold for Valentine’s Day last year.

12. Valentine’s Cards • Many people send cards on Valentine’s Day. • They can be sent to husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, mums, dads, brothers, sisters or other loved ones. • They can also be sent anonymously. • They can be funny or romantic and often include poems or rhymes.