Valentines Day Chocolaty/Fun Facts!

Chocolate wasn't always synonymous with Valentine's Day. The first box of chocolates specifically designed for Valentine's Day was created by Richard Cadbury in the 1880s. However, throughout the 19th century, doctors told lovesick patients that they should eat chocolate to help mend their broken hearts. Additionally, chocolate has a long history as an aphrodisiac. Casanova ate chocolate with his lovers, as did Madame DuBarry, courtesan and mistress to Louis XV.

Recent research has found a reason for this: chocolate contains a compound know as phenylethylamine, the same chemical that the brain produces when you fall in love. You'd need to eat more chocolate that anyone could possibly consume to get that "fall in love" feeling from it, however.

In modern times, people spend over a billion dollars on chocolate for Valentine's Day. More that 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year.

In medieval times , girls ate bizarre foods on St. Valentines Day to dream of their future spouse.

There was a belief in the Middle Ages that the first unmarried person (of the opposite sex) that you met in the morning of St. Valentines day would become your spouse.

The very first Valentine gift was sent by Duke of Orleans to his wife, after he was captured in 1415.

73% of Valentine Day flowers are bought by men, whereas women buy only 23% of Valentine flowers.

Around 3% of pet owners prefer to give Valentine gifts to their pets, as they are more grateful than humans.

In olden times, some people believed that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a soldier. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch , she would marry a millionaire.

The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love.

The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Since red stands for strong feelings, a red rose is a flower of love.

In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Valentines Day. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite Valentines decorations on wooden spoons that meant , "You unlock my heart!"