1. 81% of Americans say they get more excited about Valentine’s Day than they do about Christmas.
2. On the lookout for a bird this Valentine’s Day? Then hop over to Canada, where a garden bird watch takes place on 14th February, and extra counters are in great demand!
3. Valentine’s cards have been sent for centuries, but it wasn’t
until Victorian times that it became customary to do so anonymously.
4. The Victorians also had a trend for delivering so-called ‘Vinegar Valentine’s’ – rude or insulting messages sent anonymously to their enemies!
5. 28% of us are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a pet and 51% with their kids!
6. Condom manufacturer, Durex, reports that sales spike by up to 30% around Valentine’s Day!
7. A translation error in a 1936 marketing campaign meant that Japanese couples thought that only women could send Valentine’s cards. It created a tradition that exists to this day, with only women buying gifts for loved ones.
8. One third of us have taken the day off work to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
9. A US survey found that slippers are considered one of the best gifts for Valentine’s Day. Also featuring in the top ten are: socks, gnomes and nappies(!).
10. In the 19th century, chocolate became a popular gift for lovers after doctors began prescribing it to help heal a broken heart! In recent times, medicine has confirmed that chocolate has a mood-enhancing effect.
