St. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14th of each year. Although the name is Saint Valentine’s Day, most people refer to the day as Valentine’s Day, or even the Feast of Saint Valentine.
It was originally a day to celebrate Saint Valentinus, who performed weddings for soldiers who were not allowed to marry. He was imprisoned for this, as well as for ministering to Christians.
Saint Valentinus wrote a letter to the daughter of his jailer before he was executed. His letter was signed ‘From your Valentine’. He was buried on February 14th. Valentine’s Day was not associated with romantic love until the Middle Ages.
By the 1700s in England, it began to resemble the Valentine’s Day we know today. At this time lovers began to express their love with gifts of flowers, candy, and cards, which were called ‘valentines’.
Interesting Valentine’s Day Facts:
- On Valentine`s Day every year, there are at least 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates sold.
- On average, men spend double the amount of money on Valentine`s Day gifts than women spend. The average amount a man spends is $130.
- There are enough candy hearts made each year to stretch from Valentine, Arizona to Rome, Italy, and back again. The number of these candy hearts produced is approximately 8 billion.
- There are approximately 50 million roses given on Valentine`s Day around the world.
- Women tend to buy approximately 85% of all the Valentine`s Day cards sold.
- Valentine`s Day is the second most popular day of the year for sending cards, second only to Christmas.
- There are approximately 1 billion Valentine`s Day cards exchanged every year in the U.S. alone.
- The phrase to wear your heart on your sleeve has historical meaning. In the middle ages young people would draw the name of their valentine from a bowl. They had to wear the name on their sleeve for one week.
- The first Valentine`s Day candy box was invented by Richard Cadbury in the late 19th century.
- In the Middle Ages, superstition said that if you were single, you would end up marrying the first
- After St. Valentine was buried, Julia, the daughter of his jailor, planted an almond tree with pink blossoms near his grave. The almond tree today is a symbol of lasting friendship and love.
People in Ghana celebrate Valentine’s Day with various activities such as dancing and drumming. Many people also exchange gifts such as hand-woven baskets, clothing, and traditional jewelry with their loved ones.
Many local business owners in Ghana are excited about their revenue boost as they cash in on the sale of Valentine’s Day celebration items with special offers to customers.
According to some business owners, in the month of love, especially on Valentine’s Day, their businesses were opened to more sales, job opportunities, and new customer exposure.
Event organizers, churches, and corporate institutions use this day to organize programs for people, particularly couples to celebrate the day. Whilst some organize entertainment events, others take the opportunity to visit needy people at hospitals and orphanages to share love with them with donations of food and other items.
Since 2007, Valentine’s Day in Ghana has also been referred to as the “National Chocolate Day”. As one of the world’s biggest producers of cocoa, the Ghanaian government has decided to choose February 14th to promote the consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products among the population.