As usual, you can blame the Romans for this holiday, too. Ancient Romans began celebrating a ritual of purification and fertility called Lupercalia around the first century BCE (meaning a really long time ago). The festival was held on the 15th of February in the Lupercal, a cave at the foot of the Palatine where Romulus and Remus – the founders of Rome – were nurtured by a she-wolf.
If that makes you dizzy, then consider these facts:
- 62% of adults say they celebrate Valentine’s Day
- $448 million spent on candy the week before February 14
- 58 million pounds of chocolate candy bought during Valentine’s week
- 36 million heart-shaped chocolate boxes sold for the holiday
- 150 million Valentine’s Day cards and gifts sent each year
- 23% of adults say they purchase flowers or plants on Valentine’s Day (61% are male, 39% are female)
- 8 billion Sweethearts® produced annually – enough to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona and back 20 times
- $8.6 million Americans spend on wine for Valentine’s Day
- 174,000 gallons of wine sold in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day
Chief Writing Wolf 