Did you know that the first valentine was sent in the 15th century? Or that chocolates used to be prescribed for a broken heart? We didn’t either! Learn more about these Valentine’s Day fun facts and more with this list that is perfect to share with your students.
14 Valentine’s Day Fun Facts
The first Valentine’s Day celebration occurred in Paris.
Saint Valentine’s Day first took place in Paris on February 14, 1400.
145 million greeting cards are exchanged every year for Valentine’s Day.
That’s just in the U.S. alone, according to Hallmark! Over one billion valentines are sent worldwide, according to this video from Homeschool Prep.
About 20 percent of pet owners give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.
Dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, and more!
Candy hearts were originally medical lozenges.
In 1847, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine to simplify the process of making lozenges. He then started making Necco candy wafers. Learn more about the history in this video.
8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year.
Some of the romantic sayings include: LET S READ, LIVE N LOVE, DREAM BIG, BEST DAY, and BE HAPPY.
Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day.
Again, just in the U.S. alone!
The heart shape wasn’t always a romantic symbol.
People used to believe that the heart was the humans’ center of memory.
The chocolate box has been around for more than 150 years.
Around 1850, the Cadbury company took advantage of falling import costs and created the first box of chocolates. A decade later, they created the first heart-shaped box.
Lovebirds are actual birds.
The term “lovebirds” is often used to describe a couple in love, but it’s also the common name for the Agapornis bird.
The first valentine was sent in the 15th century.
The first valentine was reportedly a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415.
Every year, thousands of people send valentine letters to Juliet.
The letters are addressed to Verona to Juliet from the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Learn more about Shakespeare in this video for kids.
Teachers are the number one recipient of Valentines.
We couldn’t agree more that teachers deserve them most!
250 million roses are grown just for Valentine’s Day!
Red roses are said to be Venus’ (the Roman goddess of love) favorite flower.
Chocolates didn’t always mean love.
Physicians in the old days would recommend chocolate to people who were suffering from a broken heart or pining after a lost love.
What are your favorite Valentine’s Day fun facts? Share in the comments below!
Want more? Check out these Valentine’s Day poems, Valentine’s Day jokes, and Valentine’s Day videos for kids!
