26
Feature
December | 2023
Fu Facts
3 The tradition of giving
fl owers on Valentine's Day
dates back to the 17th
century, when Sweden's
King Charles XI introduced
the "Persian language
of fl owers" tradition to
Europe by sending the fi rst
Valentine's Day bouquet,
with each fl ower conveying
a specifi c meaning.
3 The fi rst heart-shaped box
of chocolates was
introduced in 1861
by English chocolatier
Richard Cadbury.
3 Nearly 6 million couples
worldwide get engaged
on Valentine's Day.
3 Americans send about145
million Valentine's Day cards
each year.
3 Furry friends need love,
too! In fact, around 27.6
million American households
purchased Valentine's Day
gifts for their pet dogs in
2020, and more than 17.1
million picked up gifts for
their pet cats.
Srini Perera; Kreative Hands; Woodland Hills, Calif.
Jeri Wingfi eld
Bowl & Bloom Flowers
Macomb, Mich.
