14th February is upon us, so today, we are sharing the love with these ten crazy facts about the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day.
If you’d prefer to read, here are the 10 facts – or scroll to the bottom to watch the video!
Ikea Australia gave away a coupon for a free crib for babies born on November 14th, which is exactly nine months after Valentine’s Day. The coupon and proof of birth had to be shown.
With three people known as Saint Valentine linked with the 14th of February, it is unclear which one the day actually honors. St. Valentine of Rome was beheaded for performing weddings in secret.
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone on Valentine’s Day, 1876. In 2012, 230 million texts were sent – 11 million more than any other day in February.
Valentine’s Day is banned in Saudi Arabia. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice restricts the sale of roses & anything red.
$12.9 billion is spent on Valentine’s Day per year. 200 million roses are produced specifically for the day, 73% of which are bought by men.
Teddy Roosevelt’s diary entry for February 14, 1884, reads: ‘The light has gone out of my life.’ His mother and wife both passed away within hours of each other on that day.
Robert Indiana created the iconic LOVE image. It was put on a Valentine’s Day stamp in 1973, making the U.S. Post Office $25 million; Indiana never copyrighted the design.
In Japan, the custom of women giving chocolate to men was started by Mary’s Chocolates in 1958. On March 14th, or ‘White Day,’ men give women cookies, jewelry & handbags.
On Valentine’s Day 2013, a Thai couple set the world record for the longest continuous kiss, which lasted for 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds. The couple also set the previous record in 2011.
A Michigan-based lawyer runs a Valentine’s Day promotion offering free divorces. In 2013, 600 people applied, and two winners were chosen.
