Everything Valentine

Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, but how was it first celebrated? What are some of the traditions and celebrations around Valentine's Day? Discover traditions, old and new, and events surrounding this special day in Everything Valentine: - Originally, Valentine's Day was a Christian saints day named for Saint Valentine who was imprisoned for performing wedding for soldiers who were forbidden to marry - In the 18th century, the day became associated with romance when lovers expressed their feelings for each other by sending flowers, offering candy, and sending greeting cards, known as "valentines" - On Valentine's Day 2000, Pfizer, the producer of Viagra, funded an impotence awareness day in Britain - In 2011, Iran banned Valentine cards, gifts, teddy bears and other Valentine tokens as part of an Islamic republic backlash against the spread of Western culture - On Valentine's Day 2010, 39,897 people in Mexico City broke the record for the world's largest group kiss - In Japan, only women give gifts to men on Valentine's Day to their partners and also to male co-workers - Alabama state law prohibits the purchase of sex toys on Valentine's Day - Valentine's Day is banned in Saudi Arabia - In eastern England, it was formerly believed that Valentine's Day was a good time for the preparation of eels for the purposes of magic - In San Francisco, Quirkyalone Day is celebrated on February 14 as an anti-Valentine's Day - Singer Janis Ian received 461 Valentine's Day cards in 1977 after confessing in her song At Seventeen that she had never received one.

TONYA LAMBERT is a writer, editor, historian and actress and has been a bookseller, book reviewer, indexer, coach and teacher. She grew up in the small town of Kelvington, Saskatchewan, before moving to Edmonton with her three daughters. She earned a BA Honors Degree in History with High Honors and an MA in History from the University of Saskatchewan. Halloween has long been her favorite holiday.