Unmasking Cupid: The History, Myths, And Fun Facts of Valentine’s Day

Exchange of Flowers: From the 1700s, the idea of “flower language” sparked in Europe, linking it with feelings of love, hate, and regret, but more with romance.

Lovebirds Are Real Birds: The term 'lovebird' isn't just a romantic metaphor; it's also the name for a captivating parrot species, the Agapornis. They are known for their strong pair bonds and inseparable nature.

Red Roses: Nearly 250 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine's Day each year, all around the world, and shipped to the U.S.

First Valentine's Card: Every year, Americans send over 145 million cards on V-day, making it the second biggest holiday for exchanging greetings after Christmas.

Conversation Hearts: Back in the day, lozenges were the go-to remedy for sore throats and other ailments. According to HuffPost, Chase streamlined the lozenge-making process and, in a sweet twist, transformed these medicinal treats into candies.

What’s Cupid: In Ancient Greece, Eros, the Greek god of love, was perceived as a young, handsome man who could make people fall madly in love with their respective partners. As per Greek Archaic poets, he played with the emotions of Gods and men, using golden arrows to evoke love.

Derived from the Ancient Pagan Festival: Valentine’s Day’s roots can be traced back to Lupercalia, a festival of fertility celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. The priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility, and a dog for purification.

Two saints named Valentine: One was St. Valentine of Rome, and the other was St. Valentine of Terni. The former was a priest who served in Rome during the third century, whereas the latter was the bishop of Terni, Italy. St Rome continued to help marry couples in secret while helping Christians escape the Roman prisons. Later, he fell in love with possibly his jailor’s daughter, and he sent his first “Valentine” greeting from the prison.