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Valentine's Day Origin

In Ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Feast of Lupercalia started the next day.

During these times boys and girls were segregated. However, the young people had a custom that began on the eve of the Festival of Lupercalia. The girl’s names were written on pieces of paper and inserted into jars. Each boy then drew a girl’s name from the jar and they were partners throughout the Festival. After being paired, the children would often continue to see each other throughout the year and on occasion even fell in love and got married.

Emperor Claudius II of Rome, also known as Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time recruiting men as soldiers. He believed that the men did not want to leave their sweethearts and cancelled all engagements and marriages throughout Rome. St. Valentine, a priest of Rome at the time, secretly married couples. He was eventually caught, arrested and condemned. He was beaten to death and beheaded on February 14th, around the year 270.

Lupercalia was a feast to a heathen God. Pastors and priests of the early Christian church did away with the pagan custom by replacing the names of the girls with the names of saints. They chose St. Valentine’s Day as the day of celebration for the new feast.


Valentine Day greetings became popular during the middles ages. During that time period, lovers sang or spoke their sentiments. Paper and written Valentines became popular at the end of the 15th Century. The oldest Valentine that exists today was made during this era and is on display in the British Museum.


In early years Valentine cards were handmade. Rebus Valentines had verses in which tiny pictures took the place of some of the words. Fraktur Valentines had ornamental lettering in the style of illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Cutout Valentines were made by folding a piece of paper several times and cutting out a lacey pattern with small, pointed scissors. A Puzzle Purse Valentine was a folded puzzle, which was read and refolded. Among the numerous folds were written lines and verses that had to be read in a certain order to be understood. Using a stencil cut from oilpaper and painting through the stencil made Theoren Valentines. These Valentines originated in the Orient. Pinprick Valentines were made to look like lace by pricking tiny holes in paper with a needle or pin.


During the 1800’s Valentines began to be manufactured in factories. In the beginning they were handpainted by the workers and came only in black and white similar to silhouettes. Fancy Valentines of the day were made of ribbon and lace. Paper lace was not introduced until the mid 1800’s. By the end of the 19th Century, Valentines were made by machine. Handmade cards became very rare. Hallmark, began to manufacture Valentine Day cards in the early 1900’s. Each year, Hallmark displays a collection of antique Valentines in its stores. Rare cards are also displayed in museums and libraries around the world during late January and throughout February. During the 19th and 20th Centuries, postcards with Valentine greetings were produced. They came in categories of humor, romantic and friendship.


Today, due to busy lifestyles and lack of time, we usually buy the Valentine cards that we send to our loved ones and friends. However, a handmade card is delightful and in my eyes a much more personal gift than an expensive store-bought card. 

Symbols of Love

God of Love: Cupids

Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbol. Everybody knows that boy armed with bow and arrows, and piercing hearts . He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows. The arrows signify desires and emotions of love, and Cupid aims those arrows at Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus.

There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him.


Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. as soon as Psyche looked at Cupid, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too. Psyche found herself alone in an open field with no signs of other beings or Cupid. As she wandered trying to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and more dangerous then the last.


For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box. During her trip she was given tips on
avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead. She was also warned not to open the box. But Temptation overcame Psyche and she opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber.

Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the deadly sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid made her a goddess.

Today, Cupid and his arrows have become the most popular of love signs, and love is most frequently depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow, Cupid's arrow.

Heart

It was formerly believed that the heart was the seat of all human emotions. Accordingly, the gifting of a heart signified the selfless act of giving everything to someone you love. Though the ancients were not aware that the heart was responsible for pumping blood though the circulatory system, yet they knew one thing for sure that the heart was the center of all feelings. This ancient belief has lingered on through the ages.

Ribbons, Laces and Frills

Ribbons and laces have been associated with love and romance since the days when a knight used to ride into a battle sporting the scarf or handkerchief presented to him by his ladylove. In the bygone times, laces were used making women's handkerchiefs. It was also usual for a lady to drop her handkerchief in the path of the man whose attention she wished to draw. 

Rose

From time immemorial, beloveds have been compared to roses. If we juggle the letters of the word ROSE we get EROS, who is the God of Love. Rose has thus been the traditional choice of lovers around the world. The colour red is associated with strong emotions and below are listed sentiments expressed by different hues of rose:

Lavender - Enchantment and Uniqueness
Orange - Fascination
Pink (Dark) - Thankfulness, Friendship and Admiration
Red - Love, Respect and Courage
Peach - Modesty, Gratitude, Admiration and Sympathy
Pink (Pale) - Grace, Joy and Happiness
Deep Red - Beauty and Passion
White - Innocence, Purity, Secrecy, Silence, Reverence, Humility and (according to some sources) True Love
Yellow - Joy, Friendship, Jealousy, Hope and Freedom
Black - Farewell
Red/White - Unity or Engagement
Yellow/Orange - Passionate Thoughts
Peach - Modesty, Gratitude, Admiration and Sympathy
Pink (Pale) - Grace, Joy and Happiness
Yellow/Red - Congratulations
Rosebud - Beauty, Youth and a Heart Innocent of Love
Red Rosebud - Purity and Loveliness
White Rosebud - Girlhood
One Dozen Red Roses - "I Love You"
Single Red Rose in Full Bloom - "I Love You"
Tea Roses - "I'll Remember Always"

Hands

The hands of a lady has been a favorite decoration for Valentine's Day for many years and is suppose to depict "femininity". To add to its beauty, the hand is often decorated with frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger. A lady's hands was a favorite decoration that depicted "femininity." Its beauty was enhanced by adding a frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger. Clasped hands are said to represent those of Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert...the symbol of friendship between their respective countries of England and Germany.

Doves and Love Birds

It was the popular belief that birds chose their mate for the year on February 14.Since doves and pigeons mate for life ,they symbolize loyalty, fidelity and love. Lovebirds, the small birds with colorful plumage, commonly found in Africa, are so called because they tend to get cozy with each other and can't survive without each other. pairs. Doves...common urban birds, shy and gentle by nature, with a distinctive "cooing" call...symbolize loyalty, fidelity and love .

Puzzik

A Puzzik is a quaint sort of homemade valentine which was a sort of puzzle that the receiver had to solve. Not only did she have to decipher the message but also to figure how to refold the paper once it was opened. The order of the verses was usually numbered, and the recipient had to twist the folds to determine what was being said.

Rebus

Although it had many forms, a rebus usually was a romantic verse written in ink with certain words omitted and illustrated with a picture. Meant to be a riddle, they were not always easy to decipher.

Love Knots

They are made of ribbons and are traditional symbols of interminable and everlasting love.

Gifts

Talk with your loved one, and gift at-least half of the money you would spend for the gifts, to missionaries, or for the poor. You will have the best of feelings inside you.

Pack a Chocolate Box with heart-printed wrapping paper, and sign it with a tag. You can also leave it at a place where your loved one will find it for sure. Copy or write a love poem on a good letter pad, and express your special thoughts. You can also add it on with any other gifts that you are planning to give.

Material Gifts are not the only things you can give, there could be better options. Plan out a special dinner with your sweetheart. It could be a candlelight or an open-air. But it has to be special in someway, otherwise the charm will be lost. If you do not have option of making it special, plan for some sort of surprise that you can give right after the dinner. However, one of the best option is to get a proper gift, and then personalize it for the person you are sending it to. This way, your gift will be always very special, and would always find a place in the nearest display rack, for many years to come. What's more, these gifts seem to speak for themselves. So a personalized gift is highly recommended.


Decorations

Red roses are what makes Valentine's Day. Fill vases with bright red or pink roses and place in strategic positions in your house to create the aura of the occassion. You can also place the petals of some red roses, or even tulips, daffodils or irises, in glass bowls filled with water.  This looks highly romantic and can be a great contributor to your Valentine's Day celebrations. 

Do you know that greeting cards can also be a good decoration item? Carefully place some cards around your house - on the living room table or over the mantlepiece. Stick some on the walls, or scatter on the bed or the sofa. You can also hang some in a string across the room.

Balloons can also make cute decor pieces. Tie some air filled balloons of different colors and shapes to chairs and bed stands. Place some of these around the room though you are adviced to keep these off from walking space to avoid irritation. This is specially to be kept in mind if you plan to throw a Valentine's Day bash at your shack. 

What can be more romantic than a candlelit dinner? Place some special scented Valentine candles in the middle of your dinner table. Carelessly strew a few beautiful red roses on the side tables along with some plates filled with chocolates, cherries or strawberries. Place a Valentine's Day greeting card atop the dinner table. Light the candles and dim the lights. The setting would be terrific for a Valentine's Day dinner. 

Let some nice romantic music, preferably karaoke, play softly in the background to add that special romantic charm to the event. This will also make it easy for you to have a slow, close dance with your partner. Special Valentine's Day collection of love songs are easily available at gift shops these days. You can buy one of those and put to use. 


Romantic Ideas for Valentines Day

Send an e-Card

This is a great way to add a little romance to your sweet one's day. It is even better if you can send a personalized message with your card. Put in a bit of thought to your message and rather than ending it casually, think deep and write from the heart. It will work wonders with your lover.

Make a Video

Another splendid idea is to make a short video declaring your love for your honey. If you have a camera phone or a webcam at your disposal, you can easily make a video. You can keep it personal and have a private viewing of your video with your sweetheart who'll surely love the idea. 

Buy roses for your love

This one is specially for men. Buy a dozen roses for your sweetie, hide them in different spots of a place like a park or a mall. Invite her and hide in some nearby spot from where you can watch the proceedings. Arrange a person to hand over a rose to her as soon as she arrives. Attach a note to it informing her where to find the next rose. This should be the case with each rose and the last one should lead her to you waiting with a bouquet of flowers. You should take the authorities into confidence for this plan to work out smoothly. Thereupon, treat her to a sumptuous lunch/dinner.

Candle-lit dinner

Treat your honey to a romantic dinner by candle-light. That doesn't mean you don't have to take your sweetheart to a posh restaurant and spend a lotta bucks. Rather, you can arrange your own candle-lit dinner at home. Cook up a splendid dinner together. Even a simple pasta would work; buy dessert from the bakery in the grocery store. Set the table; create a romantic atmosphere with candles, sweet snacks and wine. Have soft romantic music playing in the background, and dim the lights so that it's mostly the candles lighting the room. Then dress up and "attend" the dinner walking up to the table hand in hand with your love. You'll be amazed how much more fun it gives to have a candle-lit dinner at home. Once dinner is over, dance slowly to your song. Then snuggle as you watch a romantic flick together.

Prepare a dessert

This one is specially for the ladies. Invite your honey and treat him to a dessert dish. Find out about the favorite dessert of your partner and prepare it yourself on Valentine's Day. Even if it doesn't turn perfect and your cooking skills don't prove amazing, he'll pleasantly surprised and love you for your serious attempt.

Walk on the beach Take a ride to a secluded beach at sunset and park your car nearby. Slip your hand into your partner's and take a stroll along the beach bare foot, watching the sunset together. It will be better to stay awhile after the sunset and enjoy the sight and sound of the waves crashing into the shore, as the water covers your feet. Look up at the starry sky and feel the magic of the universe.

Have a beach-dinner  If you can arrange it, treat your love to a candlelit dinner under the stars, preferably to the accompaniment of some music playing off somewhere in the background. You can arrange it all near a lake or pond to make the ambience even more romantic. To top it all, you can rent a small boat and row it after dinner to go out to the middle of a lake and watch the stars.

Love-letter Believe it or not, writing love letters is still as cool. Yes, the world may have changed and e-mails and text messages may be the order of the day, but a passionate letter of love still posseses that eternal charm and out-of-the-world romanticism which many would die for. So put your pen to paper and pour your feelings out for the love of your life. Say in simple words what your sweetheart means to you, and how your life has changed since his/her arrival. Then hide it in some spot where your sweet one is likely to lay his/her hand soon. Don't worry if you're not too good with words, your sweetheart will surely appreciate your gesture. Your effort will culminate into a moment which both of you'll treasure forever, trust us. Tips for Singles on Valentine's Day The celebration of Valentine's Day is not limited to lovers but includes any and everyone loved by us, be it our parents, siblings, children, friends, relatives or dear ones. Popular conception and lopsided media promotion has resulted in Valentine's Day being widely regarded only as a day for lovers. And yet, the occasion is not so. In its true sense, Valentine's Day celebrates love. The festival is a celebration of love. Think clear and think hard and you are sure to arrive at the conclusion that Saint Valentine stood up to defend love and not romantic partners.  Go through these tips to know how you can indulge in Valentine's Day festivities in your own special way.  Spend Quality time with family members The fast paced world has left us with little time to be with our dear ones. Valentine's Day can be a wonderful opportunity for you to spend time with your family members. You can party, make a trip to the restaurant or go out for a movie together.  Party with unhitched friends  Going out with your single friends can also be a great option. Visit a friend's house or invite your pals to your own home. Catch a movie together, play party games or have a picnic. You will be surprised at what a gala time you can have even without any romantic interest.  Good acts This is also a good time to shower your love on those who really need it. Visit a hospital, an orphanage or old age home and meet with ailed or old people who have none to care for them. It is best to contact the hospital authorities beforehand and prearrange your visit to avoid any embarrassment later. Take along a bouquet of yellow roses along and gift each of them a blossom. This is sure to touch them and fill them with the warmth of love. You will feel as much pleasure in giving gifts to the less fortunate as they themselves will.