Fun Facts: Valentine’s Day Edition

The oldest surviving love poem is written on a clay tablet from the times of the Sumerians, inventors of writing, around 3500 BC, and named Istanbul #2461.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
In Medieval times, girls ate unusual foods on Valentine’s Day to make them dream of their future husband.
In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared February 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.
About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. This makes it the second largest seasonal card-sending time of the year (behind Christmas).
In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives,
sweethearts, and pets.
Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers.
189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day.
Richard Cadbury (son of John Cadbury, founder of the world famous company) created the first known heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in 1868.
More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.