1. Valentines Day
By: David Roderick

2. What is Valentines Day about?
When you think of Valentine’s day, what do you think of?
People think of love, romance, etc.
Do people think of Roman Orgins? Not really. But that’s how it started.

3. What is Lupercalia?
Lupercalia is a Roman festival held on February 15th.
It was an event held in honor of Lupercus, the god of fertility
Young men would run up and down the streets with thongs made of hide, and women would purposely get in the way to get struck hoping that it will increase their chance of getting pregnant
Also during this festival, Preists would go through a ritual of having their forehead touched with a bloody knife, then wiped off with wool dipped in milk, then they are required to laugh
The feast required to sacrifice goats and a dog

4. How Valentines Day Started
Valentines day started in Rome during the third century.
The emperor at the time was Emperor Claudius II
Emperor Claudius banned marriage, but this didn’t stop St. Valentine, a priest, from performing marriages
The priest, St. Valentine, went against his orders, and was put to death.
So, we celebrate Valentines day in remembrance of St. Valentine.

5. What is it about today?
In today’s world, Valentines Day is a day of love and romance.
During this century, Valentine’s day is a day for romance love, etc. 62% of Americans’ celebrate this holliday
Valentine’s day also brings out more emotion than a lot of other days. Research says that during the day, peoples sex drive, attachments (long term) and romantic love (obsession) increase.
Valentine’s day also brings in around $20 billion every year. In 2013, on average, every person spent $131 on valentine’s day.

6. How Card Giving Started
When St. Valentine was still alive, he wrote a note to a lady right before he was executed
He wrote a note and signed it “Your Valentine” as a farewell. This note was sent to Asterius who was the daughter of his jailer.
In 1916, Hallmark started producing Valentines Day cards
Approximately 114 million cards are exchanged industry wide every year
This makes Valentines Day the second largest card giving holiday (Christmas #1)

7. Business behind Valentines Day?
Valentine’s day is a day of business, as well as a day of Romance.
I say this because, there are so many things being sold like candy, flowers, cards, hotels, restaurant dates, etc.
America was expected to spend $18 billion on Valentines day this year
Many small businesses that prepare with a lot of Valentines Day gifts for sale on the streets

8. Valentines Day in other countries
Dia de Normanados, which means Boyfriend/Girlfriends day
Dia de Normanados is celebrated on June 12th
The traditions are very similar to how we celebrate Valentines Day in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico
In Mexico, Valentines Day is more of a day for gathering with family and loved ones
In Japan, the 14th of Feburary is the day females present gift to a close man, and March 14th is the day men pamper the women who gave them a gift one month ago
In Finland, they call it Ystävänpäivä, which means “Friends Day”, and you spend time with buddies, not so much loved ones

9. Traditional aspects
Some tradition that apply to Valentines day would be:
Also giving of gifts, candy, flowers, etc.
Dinner dates
Proposals
Single Parties
Spending time with loved ones

10. Facts on Valentines Day
Every Valentines day, the city Verona, where Juliet from Romeo and Juliet lived, gets about 1000 letters addressed to Juliet
There is about 220,000 wedding proposals on Valentines day
Teachers receive the most Valentines Day cards
189 million Roses are sold on Valentines Day
Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is sold on Valentines Day