{"id":11316,"date":"2024-01-22T08:54:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T08:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hooray-heroes.ca\/stories\/?p=11316"},"modified":"2023-11-24T12:31:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T12:31:45","slug":"fun-and-weird-valentines-day-trivia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hooray-heroes.ca\/stories\/fun-and-weird-valentines-day-trivia\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Fun (and Weird) Bits of Valentine’s Day Trivia!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Source: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not you’ve already managed to find a gift for your significant other (we think a personalized book for couples<\/a> would be a great choice…), the day itself is not without its own brand of peculiarity.<\/strong> So dive right in as we explore a few of the strangest facts<\/strong> we\u2019ve uncovered about Valentine\u2019s Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Who was Saint Valentine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Originating as a Roman feast day<\/strong>, Valentine\u2019s Day honoured the Christian martyr, St. Valentine, on February 14th. Valentine of Terni<\/strong> (or of Rome in some tellings) was a third century Roman citizen who was imprisoned during the reign of Claudius II for marrying soldiers during their military service. Though it might seem a trivial reason to go to jail, the belief at the time was that marriage diminished a soldier\u2019s efficiency on the battlefield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This fervent Christian was then tasked with healing the blind daughter of his jailer, Asterius. During this time, Valentine fell in love with Julia<\/strong> prompting him to write her a love letter prior to his execution on February 14, 271 AD. He signed it \u201cfrom your Valentine\u201d<\/strong> giving rise to the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day that we all know today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. When did we start celebrating Valentine\u2019s Day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day\u201d at the end of the 5<\/strong>th<\/strong><\/sup> century. <\/strong>However, it wasn\u2019t until the Middle Ages, the 1300s to be precise, that it officially<\/strong> became a holiday associated with love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While some believe that the date was chosen for the untimely death of St. Valentine, there are others who trace it back to a pagan fertility festival called “Lupercalia\u201d<\/strong>. This festival was celebrated on the 15th<\/sup> of February in Rome and included animal sacrifice and a bizarre tradition of smacking women with animal hides (to increase their fertility).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Cupid is a lot older than he looks <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cupid <\/strong>and Valentine\u2019s Day are an inseparable duo today, but the bow and arrow wielding cherub was once a much more intimidating figure<\/a>. His origins can be traced all the way back to 700 B.C.<\/strong> as the son of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, Eros<\/strong>. Eros, unlike Cupid, was depicted as a handsome man in his late teens who had the power to make people fall in love. While the chubby, merry character we know and love does this with innocence and good will, Eros\u2019 motives were quite the opposite. His actions were often interpreted as a kind of madness inflicted upon mankind<\/strong> causing mayhem on Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Romans<\/strong> eventually transformed Eros into Cupid in the 4th<\/sup> century B.C. by heavily connecting his stories to his mother\u2019s. By doing this, he became Aphrodite’s obedient son and (adorable) underling. His name and age were changed, and he was armed with a bow and arrow for good measure. By the time the 19th<\/sup> century rolled around, Cupid had become the mascot of Valentine\u2019s Day<\/strong> thanks to his innate match-making abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. The very first mass-produced Valentine\u2019s only appeared in the mid-1800s <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The idea of exchanging gifts goes way back with this holiday. The first Valentine was apparently sent in the early 1400s<\/strong> by a French medieval duke named Charles (who was in prison at the Tower of London at the time) to his wife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The tradition of giving flowers dates back to the 17<\/strong>th<\/strong><\/sup> century <\/strong>when King Charles II of Sweden learned of the “language of flowers<\/a>” while on a trip to Persia. This “language” assigns a specific meaning to every flower<\/strong>. For example, red roses quickly became a symbol of romantic love while white ones stood for chastity and innocence. Once the concept was brought to Europe, every blossom that was given was more than just a flower. It was a message too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. There\u2019s a Valentine’s Day alternative for singles! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For those among us not in a relationship, International Quirkyalone Day<\/a> offers singles the chance to celebrate their love for themselves and their own lives<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The idea was the 2003 brainchild of Sasha Cagen<\/strong> author of \u201cQuirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics.\u201d She believed that Valentine\u2019s Day was far too commercial and that it left a great number of people out of its observance. With 12.4 million singles in Canada<\/a>, she may be right! This is why she created Quirkyalone Day<\/strong> \u2013 to focus on self-worth<\/strong> rather than the need to be part of a couple. For many, it\u2019s a reminder that there is nothing wrong with just being you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. Valentine’s Day is celebrated a little differently in different parts of the world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that our products<\/a> are also available in Brazil<\/a>, we know that the Brazilians celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day on June 12 <\/strong>instead of February 14th!<\/sup> In Columbia<\/strong>, however, the big day falls on the third Saturday in September!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Hooray<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Japan<\/strong> has a fascinating tradition surrounding the celebration of love. There the tradition is for women to give sweet treats to the men in their lives. It is the quality<\/strong> of these treats that indicates the giver\u2019s true feelings for the receiver. One month later, on March 14th<\/sup>, men are given the opportunity to do the same<\/strong> on what is known there as \u201cWhite Day<\/a>\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Canadians do some serious spending for Valentine’s Day <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, we all know that Valentine\u2019s Day can be an expensive holiday, but the numbers are finally in. According to Statistics Canada<\/a> and Zoocasa.com<\/a>, there are over 8.2 million couples living together<\/strong> in Canada. On average, married shoppers spend around $134 <\/strong>per person on Valentine\u2019s Day gifts while dating couples spend around $148<\/strong>. The most popular Valentine’s Day gift varies by province<\/strong> with chocolate covered strawberries winning out in B.C.<\/strong>, jewellery in Alberta and Ontario<\/strong>, love letters in Manitoba<\/strong> and red roses in Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, a stunning number of pet owners<\/strong> in Canada give presents to their pets on Valentine’s Day!<\/a> The reason behind it is pretty simple: to thank them for having such a positive impact on their owners’ mental health (particularly during the pandemic). So how much are we spending on our four-legged friends? A minimum of $50 per pet<\/strong>, it seems!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There’s no wrong way to celebrate!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we likely all feel the pressure to show our love through spending, there are many, many low cost gift ideas<\/a> out there that will keep you well under that aforementioned $134 and $148<\/strong>. If you\u2019re struggling, <\/strong>Hooray Heroes<\/strong><\/a> has the solution<\/strong> \u2013 we offer a number of adorable freebies for couples in love<\/a> along with <\/a>personalized love books<\/a> (hard and soft co<\/a>v<\/a>er<\/a>) that are sure the charm any heart (and are kind to any wallet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n