Dead girl? Diapered archer? Valentine’s, explain yourself! 💘
Roses, chocolates, love letters—plus Juliet and Cupid? How did Valentine traditions get this weird?
Why are red roses the OG love symbol? 🌹💕
Red roses = love, and it’s been that way for centuries. Greek and Roman myths tied them to Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love. Shakespeare hyped them up in poetry, and Victorians turned them into secret love notes with the “language of flowers.” Then florists and brands made them the go-to Valentine’s gift, locking in their status as the ultimate symbol of romance.Love hurts? Tell Juliet 💌✨
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, people worldwide send letters to Juliet, sharing their deepest love stories. The Juliet Club in Verona writes back, keeping the tradition alive and turning Juliet’s House in Verona into the ultimate romance hotspot.How chocolate became the ultimate love snack 🍫❤️
The Aztecs swore by chocolate as an aphrodisiac, and when it hit Europe, it became a luxury flex linked to love. Richard Cadbury, a British chocolatier, took things up a notch in the 19th century by dropping the first-ever heart-shaped chocolate boxes. Add in the feel-good chemicals that mimic love, and boom—chocolate became a Valentine’s Day icon.Love letters: The OG texts 💌
Love letters have been a vibe since the Middle Ages, with the first recorded Valentine’s note penned in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans. Fast forward to the 19th century, when Esther Howland made them extra with fancy lace designs. As postal services spread the trend worldwide, Valentine’s cards blew up into a multi-billion-dollar industry—romance really pays.Why is Cupid Everywhere on Valentine’s? 🏹
Cupid, the Roman god of love, comes from Greek mythology’s Eros, who shot arrows to make people fall in (or out of) love. Over time, he went from a powerful young god to the chubby cherub we see today. Thanks to Renaissance art and poetry, Cupid became the face of romance—and now, he’s all over Valentine’s cards, decorations, and ads.