Happy Valentine's Day

by Judy

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Today is that special day for celebrating the love we have for family and friends in honor of Saint Valentine.

There are many different stories as to how Valentine's Day came to be. One legend I have heard is that Valentine was a priest in the third century, who defied a decree that soldiers could not be married, and he would secretly marry young couples in love.

Another legend (and some say that this legend is just the continuation of the first legend) is that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he wrote her a letter and signed it, "from your Valentine."

No matter which legend you may have heard, with all of their murky details, this is a day set aside for love. What I think is the best part about this day, is that it's not just for lovers - it's for everyone, so enjoy your day!

Before I leave you to your sweet smelling roses and delectable chocolates, I want to share a few fun facts about Valentine's Day:

1. More than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day each year.

2. On average, men will shell out $158 (on candy, cards, jewelry, flowers, and/or dates), which is more than double what women commit to spending. (in NY, just the roses alone cost that much!)

3. In addition to the U.S., Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Australia, Denmark, and Italy.

4. Many believe the X symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names, signed an X in front of a witness. The X was then kissed to show their sincerity.

5. Every year the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1000 letters addressed to Juliet. (I don't know - is that romantic, or creepy?!)

6. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentine would be (ack!) They would wear these names pinned to their sleeves for a week. This is where the saying, "to wear your heart on your sleeve" originated.

7. Worldwide, approximately 110 million roses, mostly red, are given for Valentine's Day each year.

8. And last, but certainly not least, about 8 billion candy conversation hearts will be produced this year. That is enough to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona and back again - twenty times!  So eat up everyone, there's plenty to go around!