What does it mean if you see a sparrow on 14 February? Why do men buy red roses? Who's Jack Valentine? Frances Quinn finds out about the most romantic day of the year.
1 More than 85 per cent of the world's annual one billion Valentine's Day cards are bought by women. So presumably several million lovers' tiffs begin shortly after the postman calls on 14 February. However, 40 per cent of all Valentine's cards are bought by parents for their children.
2 In Japan and Korea, only women buy Valentine's Day presents, and they're expected to buy them not just for their partners but also for male friends and work colleagues.
3 When it comes to Valentine's Day flowers, there's only one colour men are interested in buying: red. According to scientists, it's not through lack of imagination – when we see the colour red, our heart rate and blood pressure rise slightly, which mimics the way we feel when we're attracted to someone.
4 Norfolk has its own 14 February custom, which is thought to be unique to the county. Valentine's Day traditionally saw a visit from Jack Valentine, who knocked on the door then disappeared leaving little presents on the doorstep for the children of the house. Some families still keep up the tradition today.
5 Chocolate has been thought of as an aphrodisiac since ancient times (the Aztec Emperor Montezuma used to drink it before visiting his harem). It is now known to increase levels of mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain in a way that is similar to the effects of being in love. So if the man or woman of your dreams doesn't materialise, a large box of truffles could be the next best thing.
6 Nearly 20 per cent of the Valentine's Day chocolates in our branches are bought on the day itself. Waitrose confectionery buyer Greg Sehringer says, 'We can't be sure, but we suspect most of them are bought by men who've forgotten all about it until they get a card that morning!'
7 They may not think ahead, but men – or at least the ones who shop at Waitrose – are spending more than ever on impressing their sweethearts: our £50 Rose Bouquet, with a dozen Grand Prix roses, is our fastest-growing floral seller. Because you're worth it...
8 It was traditionally believed that the man a woman would marry could be foretold by the type of bird she first saw on Valentine's Day. Spotting a dove meant she would marry a loving man,
a sparrow suggested Mr Right would be poor but happy, while a goldfinch meant her husband would be rich. History doesn't record what kind of bird guarantees a proposal from a George Clooney lookalike.
9 Apart from human beings, only about seven per cent of mammals are known to mate for life, among them wolves, coyotes, gibbons, beavers and prairie voles. We are, however, the only species that sends Valentine's cards.
10 In the language of flowers, devised during Victorian times, red roses mean true love, daffodils symbolise chivalry, snowdrops mean hope and, if things aren't working out too well, red carnations say 'Alas, for my unhappy heart'. Large pink roses apparently mean 'Meet me by moonlight'.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in January 2007.