Valentine’s Day originated as a Roman festival called Lupercalia where men whipped women with animal skin to make them fertile. It became linked to love when Christian leaders associated it with the life of Valentine, who performed illegal marriages and was martyred. Americans spend over $100 on gifts, 200 million cards are sent, and eight billion candy hearts are sold each year.
Valentine’s Day wasn’t always about cards and candy hearts. In fact, it is believed to have originated as a Roman festival called Lupercalia, in which naked men whipped women with whips made of goat or dog skin in hopes of making them fertile. It became linked to love when Christian leaders linked the holiday to the life of Valentine, who performed marriages at a time when they were illegal and was martyred for his actions.
More facts about Valentine’s Day:
People celebrating Valentine’s Day in the United States spend more than $100 dollars each on gifts, meals and entertainment on average.
Approximately 200 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent in the mail every year, not counting all the cards exchanged by schoolchildren.
About eight billion candy hearts are made and sold each year for Valentine’s Day.
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