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Lovers in Seoul, South Korea attach locks with declarations of their love (and commitment) on Namsam Tower.

 

Okay, so I’ll admit it. I’ve spent the last ummm 6-8 years hating on Valentine’s Day. I remember when Family Day was introduced. It was suggested that as a result of such a long stretch between long weekends, people tended to get depressed. I’m not sure of the validity of this claim, but I remember thinking that we’d all be a lot less depressed if we just did way with Valentine’s Day altogether. I mean, it is a bit of a buzzkill if you don’t have a “Valentine”. But screw that! When did happiness require a relationship? I can think of lots of people in relationships who seem more miserable than me in my most single of days.

That being said, I have to admit something else.  Deep down I am a romantic at heart. This means secretly I want to love Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day for me is a clash between my rational (and sometimes cynical, bitter, sarcastic) side and my emotional (loving, romantic, mushy, sensitive) side. For me, Valentine’s Day is when all of my contradictions meet in one complicated mess of love/hate identity confusion. In the past I’ve let myself default to “I hate Valentine’s Day mode” – for instance, here is my facebook display picture on Valentine’s Day last year:

Yup.

But not this year! This year I’ve collected some fun facts about Valentine’s Day, and am trying to embrace my more lovey-dovey side (and actually admit it). If you’re a cynic, well, don’t worry. You can be a cynic and still love trivia. I’ve also included some stats that you can use for your “Valentine’s Day is just a commercial holiday created by the greeting card industry” line (find me a cynic out there who hasn’t used that one). Here goes:

• In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their Valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
• Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentines Day candy box in the late 1800s. (Commercialization of love!!)
• About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets. (WEIRD!)
• There was a belief in the Middle Ages that the first unmarried person (of the opposite sex) you met on the morning of St. Valentine’s Day would become your spouse. (Now that divorce is a thing, does this mean that the first married person you see could also later become your spouse? Also, what if you are gay? I am SO not buying into this superstition!)
• Many believe the ‘X’ symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn’t write their names signed in front of a witness with an ‘X.’ The ‘X’ was then kissed to show their sincerity. 
• Do you know what happened at U of T on Valentine’s Day in 1890? Check it here!

Now you know a little more about Valentine’s Day, whether you love it or hate it. So, what are you doing on Tuesday? What camp do you side on? Care to make a predication about my feelings next Valentine’s Day? Your guess is as good as (be) mine.