Weird and wonderful valentines facts from around the world.
Love it or loathe it, St Valentine’s Day is here to stay. It’s celebrated across the globe with a surprising variety of customs, some sweetly traditional, others wonderfully bizarre!
Here are some valentines facts that are strange but completely true.
Valentines Facts From Around the World
Over 1 Billion Valentine’s Cards Are Sent Each Year
More than 1 billion Valentine’s cards are exchanged worldwide on February 14th. This makes it the second-largest card-sending occasion after Christmas. Red remains the most popular colour, symbolising deep romantic feelings.
Medieval Valentine’s Day Dream Rituals
In England during the Middle Ages, girls would eat unusual foods on St Valentine’s Day in the hope that they would dream of their future husbands.
Juliet Still Receives Love Letters in Verona
Every Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona receives over 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.
Why? Because Romeo and Juliet famously “lived” there, at least in Shakespeare’s world.
Denmark’s Snowdrop Valentine Tradition
In Denmark, it’s traditional to send pressed white snowdrops as a Valentine’s gift to friends and lovers.
The Danish Gaekkebrev Love Poem Game
Another charming valentines fact from Denmark is the tradition of the gaekkebrev, a funny rhyming poem written by a man to his love interest.
Instead of signing his name, he uses dots, with each dot representing a letter. If the woman guesses who sent it, she receives an Easter egg from him on Easter Day.
Japan’s Chocolate-Filled Valentine’s Day
In Japan, February 14th is all about chocolate.
Women traditionally give:
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Honmei choco (true love chocolates) to husbands or boyfriends
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Giri choco (obligation chocolates) to male co-workers or friends
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Tomo choco (friendship chocolates) to female friends (a newer trend)
Men return the favour on March 14th, known as White Day, often with chocolates in white packaging.
Singapore’s Mandarin Orange Valentine Tradition
Singapore has an unusual valentines tradition.
On February 15th, single women write their phone numbers on mandarin oranges and throw them into the Singapore River, hoping for luck in meeting their soulmate.
America’s “Vinegar Valentines”
Over 100 years ago, the Chicago post office refused to deliver around 25,000 Valentine postcards because their messages were too nasty!
These sarcastic cards were known as “Vinegar Valentines.”
Valentine’s Day Was Once Banned in Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the sale of all Valentine’s Day items was banned in 2002. Shop workers were even told to remove anything red, as the day was considered a Christian holiday.
By 2008, the ban had created a black market for roses and wrapping paper.
Pets Get Valentine’s Gifts Too
And finally, a very quirky valentines fact…
An estimated 3% of pet owners celebrate Valentine’s Day by buying special gifts for their pets!
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