Interesting Facts

A dozen roses in the UK could set you back anything from a whopping £44.99, to a mere 3 quid. Here's a list of the War of the Roses:- Lidl - £3 Asda - £5 Tesco - £5 Morrisons - £5 Sainsbury's - £5 Marks & Spencer - £12 Interflora £44.99  (Shall we call that £45?) Gentlemen, if you do go for the Lidl option, might I suggest you remove the price tag? 12 x Fairtrade® red roses from M&S?  £22.00.

St Valentine was buried somewhere along the Via Flaminia on February 14th. (Allegedly his relics are at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. They were donated to the church in the 19th century by Pope Gregory XVI from their previous location in the cemetery of St. Hippolytus in Rome. How romantic!)

Saudi Arabia's religious police confiscated all red roses from shops prior to Valentine's Day. (Yes, Saudi people can sleep more safely in their beds now that this evil flower, well known for its corrupting influence has been hidden from view.   In a six-page statement, the religious police said they were saving women from "deceiving men", who used the day to give the fake impression that they loved a woman while pretending to be a "harmless lamb".  I am looking at the single red rose, given to me by my hubby, in a completely different light now.  I shall have words with my harmless lamb when he comes home tonight.)

Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and only then, sweethearts. (Children between ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.  Unluckily for the card industry, children make their own cards.)

According to an ICR survey , 81% of women and 64% of men will buy cards this Valentine's Day. (I won't be among them, I always make mine.)

Mexico kissed its way into the record books this Valentine's Day, when nearly 40,000 people puckered up with their sweeties, beating the previous world record for simultaneous kisses, previously held by Britain.

The first recorded Valentine's Day gift was sent by the Duke of Orleans in 1415. (After the battle of Agincourt he was captured and held prisoner in the Tower of London. There he composed a poem to his wife:- Go Forth My Heart Go forth, my hert, with my lady; Loke that we spare no business To serve her with such lowliness, That ye get her grace and mercy. Pray her of times prively That she keep trewly her promise Go forth, my hert, with my lady; Loke that we spare no business To serve her with such lowliness, That ye get her grace and mercy. I must as a hertless body Abide alone in hevyness, And ye shal do wel with your maistress pleasure In plesans glad and mery. Go forth, my hert, with my lady; Loke that we spare no business To serve her with such lowliness, That ye get her grace and mercy. !Note - They didn't have spell checkers in those days.)

powered by ODEO A More magazine poll of the "average British boyfriend" has found that 52% still live at home with their mums. (Further research revealed that the "average British boyfriend" is, on average, aged 25, 5ft 10in, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He rarely buys his girlfriend flowers, but will stretch to a dinner out once a month.)

According to The Independent on Sunday, the left ear is more responsive to words of emotion whispered into it than the right. (So this Valentine's Day you know which ear to whisper your sweet nothings into.)

Whale vomit is used by perfumers, to whom it is known as ambergris, and it costs £11 per gram. (So, now you know what you're getting in that lovely expensive Valentine's Day present.) ;-)

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.