Fun Facts about Valentine's Day

Partying Pagans

Most historians link the lover's holiday to an annual celebration in Rome that occurred every Feb. 15. During the boisterous bonanza, men stripped naked and spanked young maidens with animal-skin whips in an effort to increase fertility. While tame in comparison, modern Valentine's Day festivities are observed today in Mexico, Canada, France, Australia and the U.K., in addition to here in the U.S.

Secret Lovers

While history buffs don't unanimously agree on who the original Valentine was, the most popular suspect is a clergyman in ancient Rome. When the emperor outlawed marriage during wartime (because he believed single men made better soldiers), Bishop Valentine performed secret wedding ceremonies. It wasn't until 496 A.D., over 200 years after the bishop's death, that Pope Gelasius I officially declared Feb. 14 as Saint Valentine's Day.

Sweet Romance

The National Confectioners Association reports that Valentine's Day candy adds up to a sweet billion dollars in sales each year. Nearly three-quarters of that money is spent on chocolate, which has been lauded as an aphrodisiac since the 15th century. Candy hearts are a hit too, of course: Eight billion were made in 2009, and if you were to line up all those little candies, then the distance would reach from Italy and Arizona 20 times.

Love Notes

While Americans likely began exchanging handmade valentines in the 17th century, the first mass-produced cards date to the 1840s. The Greeting Card Association estimates that 1 billion cards are sent each year worldwide today and that more than half of Americans purchase at least one card, making Valentine's Day the biggest greeting card holiday in the U.S. after Christmas.

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Hey, Big Spender

While the average consumer spends about $115 on Valentine's Day gifts, meals and entertainment, men consistently dole out double what women typically pay, offering up about $158, compared to women's $75. A recent survey revealed that 57 percent of men wow their women with flowers, while 28 percent choose jewelry. Most women, however, would prefer a romantic meal to receiving either of those two traditional gifts.

I Don't

Fair warning to any man who's planning a Valentine's proposal: You may be shocked to know that 75 percent of women think that doing so is seriously cheesy. In fact, only about 50 percent of all women find the holiday romantic at all. Their feelings aren't interfering with retail sales, though—in 2010, the holiday grossed over 14.1 billion.

What a Smooch

On Valentine's Day in 2011, 14 couples gathered in Thailand to compete for the world record of longest kiss, previously set at 32 hours. Rules dictated that contestants couldn't sit, sleep or separate, and one of them fainted just a half-hour into the feat. The winning couple lasted 46 hours, 24 minutes and 9 seconds, earning themselves a diamond ring and $3,200—in addition to bragging rights. This year, seven couples will try to break the record.

Let's Get It On

A joint survey by TresSugar and AskMen revealed that 68 percent of women and 73 percent of men expect to shake the sheets on Valentine's Day. (However, men and women differ in terms of their ideal partners: While one in three men would gladly partake in a V-day one-night stand, only about one in ten women are down to do the same.) Condom company Durex reports that the surge in sex on V-Day increases their sales about 25 percent in the month of February.

Dream Date

In the same survey, thousands of guys and gals were asked what celebrity would be the ultimate Valentine's Day date. Ryan Reynolds, George Clooney and Johnny Depp ranked highest for women, while Mila Kunis, Jessica Alba and Natalie Portman were most popular for men. Blondes may have more fun, but these results indicate that brunettes are currently the hot ticket.

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