Well, love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in just about every corner of the earth. There are many myths about how it all started but one myth that is most popular is that it’s origins date back to 270 A. D. (that’s like forever ago) when the head of the Roman Empire Claudius 11 decided that men who were soldiers or who went to war, shouldn’t marry because single men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine decided he would sneak secret ceremonies on the sly – he was caught, jailed and then executed on the 14^th of February. Legend has it, whilst in jail, he wrote a love letter to the jailer’s daughter signed ‘from your Valentine’….see where we’re going with this?

Fun facts about Valentine’s Day

• Long, long ago (in the Middle Ages sometime in fact), boys and girls would add their names to a paper and throw them in a bowl…and then pick a name to see who would be their Valentine. They would then pin this paper to their sleeve for a whole week so that everyone knew who it was. The phrase “Wearing your heart on your sleeve” is said to come from this time. #SoCute
• It is reported that 15% of women in the USA send flowers to themselves. That’s sad.
• Approximately 110 million roses will be delivered within a 3 day period of Valentine’s Day. #CrazyStuff
• In the 1800’s, doctors commonly gave heart-broken patients chocolate claiming it would help to ease their emotional pain. Apparently this is why so many women today still love a box of chocolates to console themselves after a break-up.  (Although it is also widely rumoured that ice-cream serves the same purpose these days)
• Every Valentine’s Day in Verona, Italy (where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived), and the city receives around 1000 letters addressed to Juliet.

Fun ways to show you care on Valentine’s Day

• Write a love letter to the one you love – maybe detail how you met and why it was special, what you like about them and why they rock your world. Seal with a kiss, sign and deliver.
• Make your own Valentine Card – personalise the message, make it look cool with a little cardboard and glitter creativity and put a photo of the two of you inside. Sweeeeeeet!
• Bake them a cake – make it in the shape of a heart and ice it with chocolate in all shapes, colours and sizes. Cake, chocolate, heart shape…it screams Valentines. Or make a puff pastry heart (literally, roll the pastry out, cut into a heart and bake)…then give it a fun topping. Share with a glass of wine and add some chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. #Romantic
• Make a CD of your favourite songs as a couple – or just of some really romantic songs. It’s cheesy but we bet it will get played…a lot.
• Go somewhere fun for a date – somewhere free and clean. Like the local park or a beach. Pack a picnic, blanket, some vino and chocolate….#Bliss.

Whatever you choose to do, make an effort and let your Valentine know you care.