As only a month is left to celebrate Valentine's day here I want to tell you some amazing and interesting facts about the Valentine day. Have a look. - The origin of Valentine's day Historians think that Valentine's Day actually begins in Ancient Rome as a pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia, which involved sacrificing animals and whipping women with animal skins until they bled, signifying their fertility. So romantic. -In the 1300s, it officially became a holiday connected with love and romance. The holiday was Christianized — no more animal sacrifices! — and was celebrated in mid-February because many thought that birds started their mating season on February 14, which is why doves are often associated with love. -Do you know the first valentines were sent in the 15th century? But not until the 17th century did people start giving cards and letters. And Valentine's Day cards weren't mass-produced until the 1840s. -Americans send 141 million Valentine's Day cards each year. That's more than any other holiday except Christmas. And how sweet: Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards annually, followed by children, mothers, and wives. - And nearly 9 million Americans will buy gifts or cards for their dogs. Hey, furry friends need love, too. -The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1868. Today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That's 58 million pounds of chocolate. -According to Durex, condom sales rise in February. Sales are almost 20% to 30% higher around Valentine's Day. And maybe not so surprisingly, more at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than any other month. -Lace is commonly used in Valentine's Day decorations. It comes from the Latin lacques, which means to snare or to net, as in catch a person's heart.