Holiday of the Month Club :: Valentine's Day Articles :: Facts You Never Knew About The History And Celebration Of Valentine’s Day
Facts You Never Knew About The History And Celebration Of Valentine’s Day
Valentines Day is a very popular holiday in the United States. It is also celebrated throughout the world in various ways and has an interesting history attached to it.
For starters, as soon as New Year's celebrations are over, Valentine’s Day displays go up in stores until Feb. 14 and then the sales start on the 15th.
Way back when, Valentine’s Day was a Catholic holy day. It was first celebrated more than 1700 years ago when the martyrdom of one of several people named Valentinus took place. Then, sometime in the 5th century, the feast of Saint Valentine was decreed to take place on February 14th each year. This occurred when Pope Gelasius said it was so in 496 A.D. And this is the only history that has actually been written down about Valentine's Day. It was named after Saint Valentine although no one is really sure if he was alive so its complete history is pretty much subject to myth and lack of paperwork
Finally in the 13 or 1400s, Valentines Day became symbolic for romance and love and eventually evolved into the holiday we have today. In numerous cultures, people both exchange gifts and are nice to each other for the day as the celebration takes place throughout the world
Nobody is quite sure how the tradition of giving flowers and various love related items came into existence, but over the years these gifts have become an integral part of celebrating the day and a big moneymaker for many people.
The British brought over Valentines Day to the US in the 1800s. Subsequently, the first made for the-masses valentines were created by Esther Howland, who was a pioneer in the American valentine manufacturing industry. After receiving a valentine from someone, she wanted to create a business and began importing the paper lace and floral decorations from England. Because of very high demand she decided to produce them in mass and created quite a successful business for herself.
Then in the 1900s, people began giving gifts along with the valentine. Today the celebration includes the giving of valentines and candy in schools, gift and card exchanges as well as a night out for couples. Every American child and adult is likely to say "Happy Valentines Day" as a greeting on February 14th.
In Japan and Korea, women give chocolate gifts or flowers and sometimes end up making gift purchases for everyone in their office. But a month later, men are expected to give gifts back to the women who gave them chocolate. This rather new holiday that was created in 1980 is called, White Day. And it takes place on March 14th.
Additionally, the people in Korea have another day called, “Black Day” for everyone who didn't have a happy Valentines Day and received no gifts. Black Day occurs on April 14 when these people get together and eat noodles to express their sorrow over being
single. Oh well! Let’s think about doing something more fun for May 14th.
In Mexico, people receive presents from an unknown person but don’t wish each other a Happy Valentine’s Day. Instead they wish each other the equivalent of a happy Love and Friendship Day.
In Colombia the people celebrate the holiday in September instead.
Finally, Brazil celebrates their version of the day on June 12 and calls it "Dia dos Namorados" which translates as Lovers Day or Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day. Young lovers and husbands and wives exchange gifts, flowers and chocolates. Like in other countries, people look forward to the day with its celebrations everywhere. They spend the day with their families and friends as they participate in events with samba dancing, folk music, live singers, rock performers, shows, concerts and musical events all over Brazil. Brazilians really know how to throw a good party!
I know where I’ll be on June 12th.
Dr Stu
DrStu@HolidayOfTheMonthClub.com
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