20 Lesser-Known Facts About Valentine’s Day

Opinions on February 14 vary widely—some adore it, others despise it, and many simply wait for the post-holiday candy discounts. Before Cupid’s arrow diverts your focus, here are 20 fascinating tidbits about Valentine’s Day you may not be aware of.

The origins of Valentine’s Day trace back to ancient Roman times.

Imagine arriving in Rome on February 14 two millennia ago with a bunch of roses—you’d likely receive puzzled glances. While you’d correctly assume it was a festive occasion, Romans would have been celebrating the three-day Feast of Lupercalia. However, roses were definitely not part of the festivities.

According to CU Boulder historian Noel Lenski, who spoke to NPR, participants in the multi-day event “were drunk. They were naked.” Additionally, men would sacrifice goats and dogs, then use the hides to slap women, believing it would enhance fertility. Whether a box of heart-shaped chocolates or a goat hide whip is more effective for conception remains debatable.

The true identity of St. Valentine remains unclear—was he one person, or multiple?

When we refer to someone as our “valentine,” who exactly are we honoring? Like the enigmatic nature of love, the answer is shrouded in mystery.

Some accounts suggest St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician executed by Emperor Claudius II around 270 CE for secretly marrying couples to help men avoid military service. Others claim he was a bishop from Terni, Italy. Interestingly, these two stories might describe the same individual. There’s also mention of another Valentine from Africa who met a tragic end in February.

Amid the uncertainty, the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 but still acknowledges him (whoever he may be) as a saint.

St. Valentine’s patronage extends beyond just lovers.

Regardless of St. Valentine’s earthly identity, his heavenly responsibilities are diverse. Beyond overseeing love and marital bliss, he also serves as the patron saint for beekeepers, those prone to fainting, travelers, and individuals living with epilepsy.

Valentine’s Day was established by a pope to counteract “un-Christian” festivities.

Pope Gelasius I, observing the wild festivities of Lupercalia, concluded it was “un-Christian.” By the 5th century, with Christians no longer in hiding, he resolved to abolish the celebration entirely.

However, Pope Gelasius I wasn’t entirely against festivities. Understanding the need for a more virtuous alternative, he established February 14 as the Feast of St. Valentine.

The first association of Valentine’s Day with romance is credited to Geoffrey Chaucer.

Few things are as romantic as a royal marriage that took half a decade to arrange. This might explain why Geoffrey Chaucer required 699 lines of poetry to capture the essence of the event. His work, “Parliament of Fowls,” is believed to commemorate the marriage of King Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia in 1380.

The poem depicts birds gathering in February to choose their mates. Chaucer wrote, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentiyne’s day, Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” In the tale, a female eagle, unimpressed by her suitors, convinces Mother Nature to grant her another year to decide. This 600-year-old message remains relevant: there’s no need to rush, even on a holiday.

The earliest recorded valentine’s note dates back to 1477.

Legend suggests that Charles, the French Duke of Orléans, sent the first valentine to his wife while she was held captive in the Tower of London. Although Charles was a passionate poet who composed over 500 poems, many referencing the holiday, the supposed valentine was not a personal love note but rather a critique of courtly customs. The British Library even describes it as “essentially an anti-valentine.”

The true pioneer was Margery Brews, a gentlewoman deeply enamored with John Paston. Their exchange of love letters included one where she addressed him as her “right well-beloved valentine” and signed off as “your valentine.”

Despite objections from both families, Margery’s mother intervened with a timely reference to the holiday. “On Friday it is Saint Valentine’s Day, and every bird chooses itself a mate. If you could come on Thursday night,” she urged John, “I trust God that you will speak to my husband, and I will pray for a resolution.”

The tradition of exchanging cards and gifts gained popularity during the Middle Ages.

Following Chaucer’s lead centuries earlier, Shakespeare frequently referenced Valentine’s Day in his works, highlighting the holiday’s rising popularity. While it’s unclear if the lower classes celebrated, evidence suggests that the affluent observed the day by exchanging small tokens and cards.

The oldest known printed valentine dates back to 1797. Decorated with cupids and flowers, it includes the following verse:

“Since on this ever Happy day,All Nature's full of Love and PlayYet harmless still if my design,'Tis but to be your Valentine.”

The handwritten note inside by Catherine Mossday, however, strikes a less romantic tone:

“Mr Brown,As I have repeatedly requested you to come I think you must have some reason for not complying with my request, but as I have something particular to say to you I could wish you make it all agreeable to come on Sunday next without fail and in doing you will oblige your well wisher.”

Esther Howland revolutionized the modern Valentine’s Day card industry.

In the mid-19th century, store-bought valentines were often simple, low-quality papers with a few printed rhymes. Recognizing the lack of creativity, 20-year-old Esther Howland saw an opportunity to fill this gap.

Coming from a family that owned a stationery store, Howland was aware of the more elaborate valentines available in England. Believing Americans might appreciate similarly luxurious cards, she designed her own, featuring detailed patterns and lace accents. Her creations sold for as much as 75¢ (equivalent to around $100 today).

Despite their high cost, her cards became immensely popular, prompting her to hire staff and grow her business into the highly successful New England Valentine Co.

The first heart-shaped chocolate boxes debuted for Valentine’s Day in 1861.

As Valentine’s Day gift expenditures grew, Cadbury introduced a creative twist in 1861 by offering chocolates in heart-shaped boxes. The idea was that recipients would not only enjoy the sweets but also have a decorative keepsake box.

While Cadbury’s new boxes were a success, the company failed to patent the design, leading to widespread imitation by other chocolate manufacturers.

Victorians had a tradition of sending risqué cards on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day cards offer a unique way to express emotions, and for the Victorians, those emotions weren’t always affectionate.

The Victorians took pleasure in sending harsh, anonymous notes that mocked everyone from unwelcome admirers to friends and relatives with unflattering traits. These notes, aptly named “vinegar valentines,” often read like this:

“Here’s a pretty cool receptionAt least you’ll say there’s no deception,It says as plain as it can say,Old fellow you’d best stop away.”

Hallmark began mass-producing Valentine’s Day cards in 1913.

Before becoming the greeting card powerhouse we recognize today, Hallmark started as a modest venture by Joyce Clyde Hall, a Nebraska teenager who sold imported postcards to local shops. After leaving high school and moving to Kansas City, he expanded the business with his brother, turning it into a thriving enterprise.

Although they entered the Valentine’s Day card market in 1913, a devastating fire two years later forced the brothers to shift their focus from postcards to creating their own original designs, including holiday-themed cards like those for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day sees more card exchanges than nearly any other holiday.

The Hall brothers’ decision to focus on greeting cards paid off, and the mass production of cards for couples was a smart move. Today, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making it the second-largest card-giving holiday after Christmas. (And that figure doesn’t even include handmade cards!)

Valentine’s Day generates billions of dollars annually.

While money can’t purchase love, it certainly helps convey it. Americans appear to embrace this idea, with Valentine’s Day spending reaching an estimated $14.2 billion in 2024. Candy, greeting cards, and flowers topped the list of most-purchased gifts.

Candy remains the most popular Valentine’s Day gift.

If you’re curious about what gift you might receive this Valentine’s Day, chances are it’s something sweet. Candy is overwhelmingly the most common gift, with cards and flowers coming in next. If you’re hoping for jewelry, temper your expectations—only 10 percent of Americans receive something shiny each year. And, for better or worse, 1 percent end up with pets!

Jewelry sales saw a significant increase during the COVID-19 pandemic on Valentine’s Day.

With indoor dining being a risky option (few things are less romantic than a deadly virus), 2021 saw a shift in traditional gift-giving trends. To make up for the lack of romantic dinners, many turned to jewelry as an alternative. In 2021, Valentine’s jewelry sales surged by 15 percent, jumping from the 11th most popular gift to the third.

Six million couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day.

Amid the flood of heart-shaped jewelry, some receive the ultimate Valentine’s gift: an engagement ring. Remarkably, around 6 million people get engaged on this day each year, making it the second most popular day for proposals after Christmas.

Valentine’s Day marks the end of what’s often referred to as “engagement season.” Remarkably, 40 percent of annual engagements occur between November and February.

Valentine’s Day celebrations vary widely across the globe.

If you’re abroad on February 14, your experience might differ based on location. In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate gifts (unlike in the U.S., where men spend twice as much as women on average).

In Norway, women receive poems with hidden clues to uncover their admirer’s identity. In Italy, chocolate-covered hazelnuts come wrapped in romantic quotes translated into multiple languages. Meanwhile, in South Africa, women openly display their lovers’ names by pinning them to their sleeves.

In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is the most popular date for wedding anniversaries.

For couples in the Philippines looking to marry but facing financial constraints, government-organized group weddings offer a cost-effective option. Many of these ceremonies take place nationwide on Valentine’s Day. Participation is straightforward—couples simply need to arrive dressed appropriately and exchange vows. As a result, more Filipino couples celebrate Valentine’s Day as their anniversary than any other date.

Two U.S. territories achieved statehood on Valentine’s Day.

Another Valentine’s Day milestone is shared by two U.S. states. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859, though its residents didn’t learn of it immediately. (The news took a month to spread via telegraph, stagecoach, and steamship.) Exactly 53 years later, Arizona became the 48th state on the same date.

Despite the widespread celebration, many Americans feel indifferent about Valentine’s Day.

Despite the spending, gift-giving, and proposals on Valentine’s Day, almost no one considers it their favorite holiday. According to The Harris Poll, only 1 percent of people named Valentine’s Day as their top holiday, placing it on par with Memorial Day and Labor Day. All those chocolates and flowers seem to go unappreciated!