Why Do We Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

You can find a variety of different gambling experiences on bingo sites, including games and bingo rooms based around romance and Valentine’s Day. But how did this romantic holiday (or excuse to indulge in huge amounts of chocolate and other sweet treats) come about? Join us as we take a brief look at the history of this iconic day, and some of the great casino games you can play.

Valentine’s Day history

February the 14th may be a special day for many lovers across the world today, but this hasn’t always been the case. The exact origin of this romantic holiday isn’t clear, but some connect it to the Roman festival of Lupercalia. This festival took place between the 13th and 15th of February and was quite barbaric by today’s standards. Animals were sacrificed, whippings occurred, and men could win the company of a woman for the length of the festival or longer if they were happy with the pairing.

Then there’s also the celebration of St. Valentine, which also takes place over the month of February. This origin also has a potentially dark twist, as it may be connected to two priests with the name of Valentine, who were both executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. In one story, one of the priests was executed because he was performing secret marriages after the Emperor had outlawed them. In another, the same priest was imprisoned, after which he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Before he was executed, he would write her love letters signed with the classic phrase “From your Valentine”.

Whatever the exact reason for the start of this holiday may be, over time, it became a traditional part of many Western and Eastern cultures, with people sending Valentine messages and gifts, including the iconic red rose, to each other as a symbol of affection. Britannica reports that these messages of love were recorded as far back as the 1500s, with formalised printing of cards taking place in the late 1700s, eventually leading to the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day in the US in the mid-1800s.

Today, it’s a highlight for many businesses as decorations with cherubs, hearts, roses and other romantic symbols appear on advertisements, classic love songs are played in stores, and lovers and even friends are reminded to get someone they care for a gift to show their affection. While some believe this may have sullied the true meaning of this day, many still see it as a fun way to celebrate your feelings towards those who are close to you.

Great Valentine’s Day-themed casino games to play

Whether February the 14th is coming up or you’re just in the mood to play some exciting Valentine’s Day slots or other romance-themed casino games, be sure to take a look at these titles.

Cinderella’s Ball

Cinderella’s Ball is a 5×3 reel slot with 20 paylines and an RTP (return to player) of 96.28% that combines fairy tale and romance themes to create a magical experience! As you’d expect, Cinderella is waiting for her Prince Charming, but until he arrives, perhaps you can help her have a wonderful time at the ball. This game has a maximum multiplier of over 888x, as well as numerous exciting bonus features. These include:

Ballroom Bonus – If you land three scroll symbols on the first, third and fifth reels, you will be able to pick from random scrolls to reveal a certain colour. Pick three of the same colour to get a bonus multiplier of 25x, 75x, 200x or 500x!
Carriage Spin – A carriage will rush over the reels, causing symbols to spin until they land on a winning combination.
Clock Strike – The reels will spin backwards in search of a winning combination.
Fairy Magic – The fairy godmother will use her magic to fly over the reels and make all the symbols in the wake of her trail identical.
Free Spins – If you land three castle symbols on the first, third and fifth reels, you will receive between six and 15 free spins. Unfortunately, this feature cannot trigger during a free spins round.
Slipper Trail – When the glass slipper appears, it will make other wild symbols appear.

So if you’re in the mood for a fairytale with a romantic setting, be sure to check out this dreamy online slot.

Immortal Romance

Immortal Romance is another 5×3 reel slot, although this title comes with 243 paylines and an RTP of 96.86%. In this thrilling slot, the romance takes a darker, more supernatural twist, filled with beautiful and handsome vampires making it perfect for fans of Twilight, True Blood and other classic vampire romance stories. This game has some truly seductive features to keep you wanting more. These include:

Chamber of Spins – Land three or more scatters in any position on the reels and you will activate the Chamber of Spins minigame. This feature has four options, based on the four characters in the game. Each of these bonuses has its own unique features, but three of them can only be unlocked after you trigger this bonus five times.
Wild Desire bonus – This feature can trigger at random, and when it does, up to five entire columns will fill with wilds.
Wild Vines – Stand a chance to win 25 free spins, with wild vine symbols that transform other symbols into additional wilds.

If you find the darkness alluring, perhaps this slot will get your heart racing.

Romeo & Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is based on the classic Shakespearean tale of two lovers separated by warring families. This slot from Blueprint Gaming may be based on this tragic love story, but thankfully it’s a much more fun experience. It is a 5×3 reel slot with 20 paylines and an RTP of 92.59%. Even if the RTP is lower than some other slots, this game has some exciting features to make up for it. These include:

Jackpot King Deluxe Pot System – If you land five Jackpot King Deluxe symbols, the Jackpot King Deluxe Pot System will trigger. This bonus game features fixed jackpot wins, as well as an additional minigame called the Wheel King feature. This feature is triggered when you land more than 15 Crown symbols and provides you with Big Win Multipliers and Progressive pots.
Juliet’s Wheel of Fortune – If you land three Bonus symbols and reveal Juliet’s Wheel of Fortune, this bonus game will begin. This offers multipliers, which can also be upgraded, and a Big Money bonus which will provide a Big Win if you’re lucky enough to land it.
Lover’s Super Spin – This bonus can trigger just by playing the game. It will reward you with three heart symbols and one of five great bonuses, all of which could help you trigger a win.
Romeo’s Mystery Win – If you land three Bonus symbols and reveal Romeo’s Mystery Win, this minigame will start. Here you get to pick one of three shields, which will either reward you with a cash prize or end the bonus game.
Star Crossed Lovers Free Spins – If you land three Bonus symbols and reveal Star Crossed Lovers Free Spins, you will get five free spins but across two reels, one for Romeo and one for Juliet. If you land Star Crossed Lovers symbols, these will appear on both reels, and then transform into another symbol (excluding the bonus symbols).

Will these two lovers torn apart by circumstance offer you a happy ending? There’s only one way to find out!

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