If you’ve got Valentine’s Day on the brain, you might be wondering where it all started. Have a read of our favourite facts while pondering what to get for your loved one!
- In Victorian times, signing a Valentine’s Day card was considered bad luck.
- In the 1800s, physicians would advise their patients to eat chocolate to help their grief after losing a loved one.
- The red rose is thought to be the favourite flower of Venue, the Roman goddess of love.
- On average, 220,000 wedding proposals take place every year on Valentine’s Day.
- In the middle ages, men and women would draw a name from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They’d wear the name on their sleeve for a week, which is where the expression ‘to wear your heart on your sleeve’ comes from.
- Lace is commonly used on Valentine ’s Day decorations. The word ‘lace’ derives from Latin, meaning ‘to snare or net’, referring to catching feelings for someone.
- Every year on Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona (home of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) receives around 1,000 letters to Juliet.
- In Medieval times, girls believed eating bizarre foods would help them dream of their future spouse.
- The earliest known Valentine’s Day letter dates back to the 15th century. It was sent by the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London.
- In 2002, Thailand issued the world’s first ever rose-scented stamps for Valentine’s Day.
If you’re still looking for inspiration for a Valentine’s Day gift, take a look at our dedicated rage. Whether your sweetheart has a sweet tooth or prefers savoury goodies, we have the perfect hamper to suit!