Valentine's Day Fun Facts

It's Valentine's Day - love is in the air!  Here are some fun facts to enjoy while you eat those chocolates!

• Some say that we celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th because in the Middle Ages it was  believed that love birds chose their mates on that day. 

• In Medieval times, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine.  They wore the name pinned to their sleeves for a week for everyone to see.  This is the origin for the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."

• The heart is the most common symbol of Valentine's Day.  Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart and it's red color was thought to be the most romantic color.

• Red roses are the flowers of love because they were the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love.

• Physicians in the 1800's commonly advised their heartbroken patients to eat chocolate to ease their pining hearts.

• Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's day in the late 1800's. 

• Candy conversation hearts, a Valentine's Day icon, originated in the 1860's.  Today, more that 8 billion conversation hearts - 50 tons - are produced every year!

• To be awakened by a kiss on Valentine's Day is considered lucky.  

• An average of 220,000 marriage proposals occur every year on Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here's a serenade from some gentlemen who were in the store this week:  4-Old Hearts!