Planning on celebrating Valentine’s Day? Here are some of the 7 most absurd Valentine’s Day facts that might not make you think about love, romance, and mushy stuff!
The Pagan Holiday Started With a Sacrifice and Whipping
Some trace Valentine’s Day origins to a Christian effort to replace a pagan fertility festival that has been dated as far back as the 6th century B.C. During the festival of Lupercalia, Roman priests would sacrifice goats and dogs and use their blood-soaked hides to whip women on the streets, as a fertility blessing. According to legend, women would later put their names in an urn and be selected to be paired with a man for a year.
The Day St. Valentine Was Put To Death
Another opinion of how this day started is Saint Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II. Although the Emperor banned marriage because singled men fought better in war, St. Valentine illegally married couples, but when he was caught, he was put to death……. on February 14th. Before his death young couples would visit his cell to give him cards and flowers.
You decide!
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Approximately one month before the romantic day is the largest week for filing for divorce. (January 12-16)
There are on average 6,646 divorces on Valentine’s Day. Among the names of divorcees are:
- 1919 Theoretical Physicist Albert Einstein divorces Mileva Maric
- 1989 Robin Givens is granted a divorce from Mike Tyson
- 1999 Singer Prince divorces belly dancer Mayte Garcia
Sweetheart Candy weren’t so sweet!
Originally the sweetheart candy were lozenges. In the 1860s, Daniel Chase, the brother of NECCO’s founding father, Oliver Chase, began printing sayings on candy. He devised a machine in which a felt roller pad moistened with red vegetable coloring pressed against the die.
Grown-ups were entertained and passed the hearts around at parties and sometimes used for weddings, with humorously long-winded prophecies including “Married in satin, Love will not be lasting,” “Married in Pink, He will take to drink” and “Married in white, You have chosen right.”
Some of the original sayings are still being used “Be Mine,” “Be Good,” “Be True,” and “Kiss Me.”
Love Letters To A Dead Woman
Each year thousands of letters are sent to Juliet in Verona, Italy which marks the location of the Shakespearean tale, Romeo and Juliet. The letters are answered by a team of volunteers from the Juliet Club. On Valentine’s Day, the club awards the “Cara Giulietta” (“Dear Juliet”) prize to the author of the most touching love letter.
Trolling To Say I Hate You
If you don’t want the attention of certain suitors, send a “vinegar valentine”. For at least a century, during the Victoria Era Valentine’s Day was used as an excuse to send mean, insulting cards. Back then, they were called “mocking,” “insulting,” or “comic” valentines. Some say it was trolling before the internet.
A Prisoner Starts A Tradition
Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the first Valentine’s love letter to his second wife at the age of 21 while in prison, he was captured at the Battle of Agincourt. He remained there for 20 years and never saw her again.
Hope your Valentine’s Day is full of love!
Which fact is your favorite?
