9 things you probably didn't know about Valentine's Day

More than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates are sold across the country every year for Valentine's Day.

A red rose was the favourite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

King Henry VII officially declared 14 February the holiday of St. Valentine's Day in 1537.

It was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine's card in Victorian times and some people still refuse to sign a card with their name to this day.

The X symbol became synonymous with a kiss in medieval times because most people couldn't write their names so they signed with an X and kissed it.

59 percent of pet parents say they'd whip up a special meal for their dog to enjoy on Valentine's Day.

The expression "wear your heart on your sleeve" has a few of possible origins. One is that in the Middle Ages men and women drew names from a bowl for their Valentine. They would then have to wear the name pinned to their sleeve for a week.

Every year around 1000 letters are sent to 'Juliet' in the Italian city of Verona where Romeo and Juliet was set. It has become so popular that now the Club di Giulietta (Juliet Club) has taken over replying to the letters. Every year they also award a prize 'Cara Giulietta' ('Dear Juliet') for the most compelling letter received during the previous year.

In Medieval times girls ate strange food believing it would help them meet their future spouse.