Love it or hate it, it’s Valentine’s Day.

Today is the day to be in love and to show your love by sending flowers (did you forget, gentlemen? Get on it!), drowning yourself in chocolate and taking the opportunity to drink expensive wine and order things off a fancy French menu that you can’t even pronounce.

Today is also the day for the others of you (me) to cuddle up in your Snuggie, eat pie and watch movies ad nauseam…and it’s ok…you have an excuse! (Every other day of the year, you don’t, so don’t be sad, revel in the freedom!)

So, if you find yourself in the middle of the restaurant lacking conversation, or find yourself watching Bridget Jones for the fifth time in a row, take a deep breath, relax and read these interesting facts. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry or at least you’ll impress:

The history of Valentine’s Day is a bit muddled, but historians suggest that the Day of Love was initiated during the third century in Rome. According to the popular story, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men because he believed single men made better soldiers. However, a young priest named…you guessed it…Valentine, disagreed and secretly continued to marry young lovers. The Emperor sentenced Valentine to death when he learned about his love-deeds. In jail, Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and before he was put to death, he wrote his last love letter to his beloved and signed it “From Your Valentine.” Sound familiar?

Red roses are considered the flower of love because if you switch the letters around, the new word would result in ‘EROS,’ who is the God of Love.

Men will spend an average of $175 on the holiday this year, compared to an average of $88 for women.

More than 9 million pet owners are expected to buy gifts for their pets this Valentine’s Day. (And 9 million pets won’t return the favor).

Around 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day…mine should be arriving shortly. Shhh…

One billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

The phrase “Sweets for the sweet” is a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1.

Now, go! Spread your newfound knowledge! Because tomorrow will be just another day and these facts will not be applicable for another 364 days.

Christina Chastain
Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Coordinator