Its now February and millions of people around the world looking ahead to one of the worlds most celebrated holidays, Valentine’s Day.
Now, everybody knows what Valentine’s Day is, and know when it is, but did you know the history of the day? Or any of its quirky and lesser know facts? We have gather together a few interesting facts about the holiday and how we can make valentine’s day easier for you with our recommended gifts!
VALENTINES DAY FACTS
1. St. Valentine wasn't just one person.
You may already know that Valentine's Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there's actually some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday technically honors. According to History.com, there are at least two men named Valentine that could've inspired the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third century Rome. As the story goes, this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II's ban on marriage (he thought it distracted young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.
Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first "valentine" message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed "From your Valentine."
2. The first valentine was sent in the 15th century.
The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. One of the lines in the poem? "I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine."
3. Nearly 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine's Day.
I mean, what better day is there for a marriage proposal than a day literally dedicated to love and romance? Valentine's Day is one of the popular days to pop the question, with as many as 6 million couples getting engaged on February 14. And according to the results of this survey, Valentine's Day was voted the best day of the year to propose than any other day — and of those people who voted, 40% were men!
4. People spend millions each year for their pets
Hey, furry friends need love, too! In fact, around 27.6 million American households gave Valentine's Day presents to their pet dogs in 2020, and more than 17.1 million picked up gifts for their cats. All in all, American households alone spent an estimated $751.3 million on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day.
5. It's celebrated differently around the world.
Many Latin American countries know the holiday as el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Though couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday's focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends!
In Japan, it's customary for just the women to give confections to the men in their lives, with the quality of the chocolate indicating their true feelings, according to Fortune. On March 14, exactly a month later, the men repay the favor by celebrating the increasingly popular "White Day."
Beech’s Chocolates
100 years of perfection! Beech’s only use natural ingredients and all their chocolate is Fairtrade Cocoa and gluten free. The Beech’s chocolatiers still use the recipes and techniques passed down for decades, to make traditional British favourites such as chocolate enrobed fondants, bars, chocolate coated brazils, ginger, mints, truffles and many other delicious treats.
This superb range of award-winning luxury confectionery is renowned for its unrivalled taste. So, if you are looking for a beautiful, high quality gift or treat made from only the finest natural ingredients, presented in stunning packaging, we are delighted to say that you have come to the right place! Check out our Beech's range HERE
Love Hearts
The staple sweet of valentine’s day!
Share the love with Love Hearts! These romantic sweets are each printed with a message or emoji, perfect for telling someone how you feel or simply to give yourself a pick me up! What will yours say? Check them out HERE
Artificial Plants
A more personal touch. These luxury artificial planters from Fixtures make the perfect gift for a partner or loved one. These plants will bring life to any room and a splash of colour.
We personal recommendation for a valentine’s gift is the pink peach tree. The delicate look and smooth pink colour petals combine perfectly to create a peaceful vibe. We also offer many other types of trees / plants so there are many more options. Find your perfect tree HERE