Happy Valentine’s Day!
This annual celebration of love has its origins in either Christian or ancient Roman practices, depending on who you ask. Some claim it’s a commemoration of St. Valentine’s burial – however, there have been multiple saints named “Valentine” over the years, so it’s not clear which one was the original cupid.
Others claim it comes from Lupercalia, a Roman holiday celebrating the fertility god Faunus.
In any case, it’s here to stay! So today we’re going to celebrate the only way we know how… by checking out cool innovations! Some of these are silly, others are serious (and changed the world), but all are absolutely lovely. Are you ready to swoon?! To the innovations, then!
1. Online Dating – AKA “A method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship”
Let’s kick it off with one of the most impactful love innovations… online dating!
Nobody can deny that online dating has changed the way people find romance – in the past decade or so, it’s gone from a niche “last resort” to the mainstream.
In fact, 30% of Americans now say they have used online dating at some point in their lives. And while the concept of pairing people based on personality traits (rather than chance encounters) dates back to the late 1950s, it really took off with the launch of Eharmony – one of the first online dating sites.
Their systematic approach to pairing lovers was outlined in a patent in 2000, and along with Match.com, they sparked a shift in the way we approach dating that continues to this day.
2. The Love Finder – An “Electronic Method And Apparatus For Finding Love”
This one is a bit silly (we like silly around here)!
While dating websites are the preferred choice for many these days, there used to be an even easier way to find love… with The Love Finder!
This tongue-in-cheek machine claimed it could predict your “love levels”. So, if you used the machine while near a potential partner, it could tell you if it’s a match (or not).
To use it, you simply grab onto the handle on the main console. This feeds into a CPU, which monitors physical responses like increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing pattern changes.
These simple physical indicators may indeed be linked to love… but these days, we’d trust an online dating algorithm over something as simple as this. While it’s not exactly the most scientifically sound concept, it’s good for a laugh!
Psst… curious to see what’s inside one of these things? Take a look here:
3. Heart-Shaped Cucumbers (And Other Fruits & Veggies)
Few things say “I love you” like food… and this trend of heart-shaped vegetable molds takes it to the next level!
This Japanese concept has started to spread across the globe. The concept is simple: grow your vegetables like normal, but keep them inside a specially shaped mold. They’ll grow as usual… but they’ll take on the shape of the mold!
While the concept is pretty cool, the prices aren’t exactly sweet. Some of these molds can go for upwards of $80! The good news is that you can reuse them. And if hearts aren’t your style, don’t worry – thanks to the success of the heart molds, there are now plenty of different types of fruit and veggie molds out there!
4. “Conversation Heart” Candies
Who doesn’t love a Sweetheart?!
(Okay… it looks like they’re a bit more controversial than we thought. It seems that Sweethearts are the “candy corn of Valentine’s Day” – you either love them or hate them.)
These heart-shaped candies with romantic messages have been around for decades… and while they briefly disappeared from shelves in 2019, they’ve returned to capture our hearts once again.
The concept is simple, but they’ve enjoyed enduring fame since their creation in 1866. It’s proof that innovation doesn’t have to be extreme or life-changing to enter our hearts for good!
And of course, the innovation keeps coming. These days, you can even order your own personalized versions with your own messages on the hearts!
5. Valentine’s Day Cards
We’ve saved the most famous for last. Valentine’s Day cards are unavoidable in early February, and for good reason… they’re the perfect way to convey your love for someone!
While standardized Valentine’s Day cards have been around for decades, the original concept behind them is much older. The first Valentine’s Day card was sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans.
Charles was imprisoned in the Tower of London, wishing he could convey his love despite being stranded from his lover. So he sent her a poem titled “Farewell To Love” – and the first Valentine’s Day card was born.
Since then, Valentine’s Day cards have been popularized by poets like Chaucer and Shakespeare. They finally entered the mainstream in the 1840s due to an article in The Public Ledger, which encouraged “more soul-play and less head-work”. Hallmark finally entered the game in 1913, and the rest is history!
Alright, that’s it for today. Before you go, be sure to leave a comment below telling us which Valentine’s Day innovation is your favorite!