10 Amazing Facts About Valentine's Day 2017 | Countries that Banned Valentine's Day
10 Amazing Facts About Valentine's Day 2017 | Countries that Banned Valentine's Day | Ideas and Treats for Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and soon 224 million roses will be given around the world, while in the U.S., 180 million cards will be exchanged. In this video, I am going to share with you 10 Amazing Facts About Valentine’s Day.
Number 10: “Valentine’s Day Origin”
The exact origins of Valentine's Day are difficult to pinpoint, but there are indications that the holiday may have started with the Roman feast known as Lupercalia. This feast was celebrated from February 13-15, and included slaughtering of animals, matchmaking, and fertility ritual.
In the 3rd century, Emperor Claudius II executed two men, both named Valentine, on February 14. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.
Number 9: “Cupid and Venus”
An important symbol associated with Valentine’s Day is Cupid’s bow and arrow. Cupid is the Roman god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is portrayed as the son of Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty and fertility.
He is always on the hunt for couples to shoot with his arrows to make them fall in love. It is said that his arrows are most effective on Valentine’s Day.
Number 8: “Famous People”
Famous persons born on Valentine’s Day include Christopher Sholes, inventor of the typewriter; Gregory Hines, American singer and actor; Michael Bloomberg, three-term mayor of New York City; Frederick Douglass, African-American abolitionist; George Washington Gale Ferris, engineer and inventor of Ferris Wheel; and Rob Thomas, lead singer of pop band Matchbox Twenty.
Number 7: “Valentine’s Day Spending”
In the United States, Valentine’s Day is a big business that brings an annual 19 billion dollar transactions. Of this enormous spending, $4.5 billion is spent on jewelry, $4.4 billion for dining out, $1.98 billion on flowers, and $1.14 billion on cards. The rest are spent on candies, gift cards, and clothes.
On average, men will spend $196 on Valentine’s Day, while women will spend $100. Young adults, ages between 25-35, will spend the highest amount at $234.
Number 6: “Countries that Banned Valentine’s Day”
Basing on the notion that Valentine’s Day promotes casual sex and alcohol consumption, six countries prohibit Valentine’s Day celebration. These are: Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and India.
In addition, the Belgorod Province in Russia banned Valentine’s Day in 2011. Interestingly, in 2013, two Florida schools banned Valentine’s Day gift exchanges.
Number 5: “The Good and the Bad”
According to a recent survey, 11% of American will be engaged on Valentine’s Day. Interestingly, Christmas Eve comes at number when it comes to engagement proposal.
The sad part is, 53% of women in America would dump their boyfriends if they did not get them anything for Valentine's Day. And not to feel ignored with the hype, 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
Number 4: “In the Mood for Love”
Cards and flowers are not the only ones given on Valentine’s Day. According to a Durex survey, condom sales are highest around Valentine's Day with a significant increase of 20% to 30% more than usual
Consequently, one month later, more at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than in any other month.
Number 3: “International Condom Day”
To promote the prevention of STDs and unwanted pregnancies, February 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, is celebrated as International Condom Day. The celebration includes lively music, free condom distribution, and safer-sex awareness.
Initiated by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, since its inception in 2009, several countries have participated in celebrating and promoting International Condom Day.
Number 2: “Longest Kiss”
According to Guinness World Records, the longest kiss lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds, achieved by a Thai couple named Ekkachai Tiranarat and Laksan Tiranarat. The event was organized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Thailand on February 12-14, 2013. The victorious couple, from Bangkok, won two diamond rings and $3,300 cash prize.
Previous record was set by a gay couple who kissed for 50 hours, 25 minutes and 1 second.
Number 1: “The Price of Love”
It took 22 years to complete, employed 20,000 labourers, and cost around $200 million. Emperor Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal after she died giving birth to their 14th child.
In 1983, this ultimate symbol of love was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage. Around 25,000 to 30,000 people visit Taj Mahal everyday, with an additional 10,000 more visitors on Valentine’s Day.
Eastern Front (World War II) | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Eastern Front (World War II)
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
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The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Southeast Europe (Balkans) from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It has been known as the Great Patriotic War (Russian: ru:Великая Отечественная война, Velikaya Otechestvennaya Voyna) in the former Soviet Union and modern Russia, while in Germany it was called the Eastern Front (German: die Ostfront), or the German-Soviet War by outside parties.The battles on the Eastern Front of the Second World War constituted the largest military confrontation in history. They were characterized by unprecedented ferocity, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life due to combat, starvation, exposure, disease, and massacres. The Eastern Front, as the site of nearly all extermination camps, death marches, ghettos, and the majority of pogroms, was central to the Holocaust. Of the estimated 70 million deaths attributed to World War II, over 30 million, the majority of them civilian, occurred on the Eastern Front. The Eastern Front was decisive in determining the outcome in the European theatre of operations in World War II, eventually serving as the main reason for the defeat of Nazi Germany and the Axis nations.The two principal belligerent powers were Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. Though never engaged in military action in the Eastern Front, the United States and the United Kingdom both provided substantial material aid in the form of the Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union. The joint German–Finnish operations across the northernmost Finnish–Soviet border and in the Murmansk region are considered part of the Eastern Front. In addition, the Soviet–Finnish Continuation War may also be considered the northern flank of the Eastern Front.