Ten Out-of-the-Ordinary Valentine’s Day Customs

From the festivals of ancient Rome to modern public awareness campaigns, the holiday hasn’t always been about roses and candy. Here's an example:

Eat Your Heart Out: French women traditionally have relied on subtle culinary cues to signal their amorous intentions. The July 1956 issue of the journal Western Folklore reported: “a young maid lets her swain know whether the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by what she feeds him on St. Valentine’s Day. It's a custom that goes back for centuries. Any egg dish, for example, definitely means No! On the other hand, an apple or pear means Yes!

What does it mean if she offers you a brie omelette and pears poached in wine for dessert? Would No still mean No?

Read more: Smithsonian Magazine