When you start to think of Valentine’s Day, you may envision beautiful flower arrangements, heart shaped balloons, a great deal of nice treats and sentimental cards that are sure to make you blush. But have you ever stopped to think about how this tradition of celebrating love on e to be? Look no further than our list of interesting and fun Valentine’s Day facts to inform you and your loved ones on the annals trailing as to the reasons this special event regarding love are distinguished.

While some of these little-known truths about the holiday ericans spend on the perfect V-Day present or when the very first Valentine’s day message was sent, others are more unusual. In fact, some of the earlier customs associated with the holiday were not romantic at all, but instead focused on fertility and included sacrificing animals. (We know, the complete opposite of a lovey-dovey grand gesture.)

Regardless of how much or how little you already know about the most loving day of the year, these factoids are sure to come in handy as an ice breaker for your Valentine’s day party and will definitely give you the upper hand at any Galentine’s Time trivia night.

step one. St. Valentine was not one person.

You ed after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there is however actually particular confusion surrounding hence St. Valentine the break officially honors. Centered on Records, there are at the least one or two boys titled Valentine one to could’ve passionate the holiday, in addition to one to Valentine who was a beneficial priest inside 3rd century Rome. As facts goes, that it Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s prohibit to your relationship (he thought they distracted more youthful soldiers), dishonestly marrying people throughout the heart of love up until he was caught and sentenced to help you death.

Another legend suggests that Valentine was slain getting attempting to help Christians avoid prison inside the Rome, which he in reality sent the initial «valentine» message himself whenever you are imprisoned, composing a page finalized «Out of your Valentine.»

dos. Valentine’s has its own origins during the a historical Pagan event.

Although some historians accept that Valentine’s honors brand new death of St. Valentine to your March 14, anyone else believe that the holiday indeed has its origins for the a Pagan fertility festival named «Lupercalia,» which had been known toward February fifteen inside old Rome. Intent on Faunus, the fresh Roman god from farming, and you can Roman founders Romulus and Remus, the day try prominent of the compromising pets and you may smacking people having creature covers, a habit that was considered encourage fertility.

step 3. On the 1300s, it technically became a vacation of this like.

At the conclusion of this new fifth millennium, Roman Pope Gelasius technically proclaimed the date of February 14 «St. Romantic days celebration.» It was not up to before the Old, whether or not, your escape became for the love and you can relationship, a lifestyle you to definitely began on the popular faith for the France and England that birds been their mating year on March fourteen.

cuatro. Cupid has its own sources during the Greek myths.

He’s this new lovely cherub that looks into Valentine’s day cards, often represented which have a bend and arrow — but exactly how performed Cupid feel a common icon from Romantic days celebration? According to Time, the profile can in fact end up being traced all the way back to 700 B.C., towards Greek jesus off love called Eros, who had been in reality a handsome, immortal kid into daunting capability to cause people to fall in love. It was not before the 4th century BCE that the Romans then followed Eros toward picture of a cute little boy that have an excellent bend and you will arrow, naming him «Cupid.» By the turn of one’s 19th 100 years, Cupid came into existence connected with Valentine’s day due to his like-coordinating energies.