Did you know that the heart is the only organ in the body that has its own international holiday?
Every February 14, sweethearts send each other cards, candies, and flowers. This romantic tradition has been going on since the Middle Ages, more or less. But the holiday itself started in ancient Rome, when February 14 was a feast day. It was also the date that lovebirds—the actual birds—supposedly began to mate. Eventually it became St. Valentine’s Day, although no one is really sure how it got its name.
All around the world, people believe that the heart is important to life, love, and happiness. That’s why it is so essential to songs, poems, language, and customs in just about every culture.