Valentine’s Day is celebrated across the world on the 14th of February each year. Why is this date the most loved day for couples and what is its significance? Read on to find out!
Why are Valentine’s Day cards so popular?
The red roses wilt and fade chocolates are eaten, and vouchers are quickly spent and then forgotten. The only viable alternative is a lovely Valentine’s gift card, which expresses unending love and constancy.
Receiving a greeting card is a strong emotional connection, and cards often become precious keepsakes that are often handed down through generations, usually illustrating connections with people who have passed away.
It is said that the most faithful lovers never sign their cards because they believe that the receiver must know instantly from whom it came. The postmark could be an indication, but some senders of cards test the loyalty of their loved ones by traveling distances from their homes, sometimes overseas, to send their message.
What is the History of Valentine’s Day
The story of romance that blossoms in early spring dates back to ancient times, where pagan celebrations were held celebrating the blossoming love. A fertility festival was held on February 15th for this was the date when birds were supposed to begin their mating.
The custom of sending tokens of love, notes and love tokens on the 14th day of February is in use for centuries, with the earliest surviving valentines dating from the 15th century. In 2019 , the oldest acknowledged Valentine’s Card was sold at auction for £7,200, demonstrating the marketable interest for this romantic tradition. Early Valentines often took the form of poems or handwritten notes, but in the 1800s, with the advent of cheap paper and the introduction of innovative printing techniques, Valentine’s Day cards became available to everyone as well as artists and poets.
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However, it was those brutal Roman Emperors, who persecuted Christians and Christians, that we need to thank for our current Valentines. One particular one, known as Claudius the Cruel (actually Claudius II) prohibited soldiers from marrying, lest during campaigns they pined for their wives and families. A Christian priest called Valentinus defied the order and conducted secret wedding ceremonies the emperor was shocked to find the secret, he got put into jail. In prison, he stayed with (and possibly loved) the daughter who was blind of his jailer; and some stories claim his faith healed her from suffering. The day before his execution, he wrote her a farewell note that read “from your Valentine”. The date? February 14th of course!
The pagan celebration of Lupercalia was declared by a Christian priests in 1537 to be an official Feast of St Valentine; and thus, began a tradition that has become peculiarly British…the mailing of Valentine cards. However, it was that lover of love, Henry VIII, who eventually made the day official – A Royal Charter of 1537 established that the 14th of February was St Valentine’s Day. Other countries also celebrate the day, but not with the enthusiasm and passion that typifies the Britons.
Even though the French aren’t enthusiastic about the festival however, the earliest Valentine message in the British Museum was sent in 1450 by an French nobleman. Charles, Duke of Orleans was a “guest” from the British monarchy at the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt and he sent the Valentine to his wife. It wasn’t until the early 1800s that the giving of extravagantly printed cards became popular.
If you love me…
The British are among the most romantic people in the world and that’s not just in the case of sending the Valentine’s cards. According to the annual report on market trends carried out by the Greeting Card Association, PS47m was spent on Valentine’s Day cards in 2022.
Traditionally , lovers would travel to The Wiltshire community of Lover to exchange cards, to stress their devotion to, and sometimes to confuse their partner. In response to the constant demands, following the closing of their local PO there is a post office for a short time each year in the run up to Valentines to make sure that the Lover postmark lives on.
It was in the late 18th Century one poet with a flair for innovation published “The the young men’s Valentine’ which was a collection of verses that covered every sentiment to help the tongue-tied young man express their feelings. It was a huge success and sold out like hot cakes. Other similar books followed that included poems written for women and some even included verses that give the chance to rebuke an unintentional suitor.
Nowadays, people are more likely to send cards. The popularity of greeting cards has played an increasing important part within British communications since first known Christmas cards were handed out to the public in 1843 via Sir Henry Cole. Card-based sending in the UK was booming at the beginning of the 20th century, and cards played a particularly important role in the communication between the two world wars. Post-war sending a greeting card has become a popular method to commemorate special occasions, convey sympathy and just say Thinking of You. The research conducted this year from Royal Mail demonstrated the impact of receiving a greeting card. Many of us can remember receiving our first Valentine’s Day card and many have kept them!
Today Valentine’s cards are often delivered to other family members in their list, especially when they think they require some romance in their lives.
Royal Romance
One of the most prolific Valentine card writers was Queen Victoria who was a fan of sending perfumed missives to Royal aides on February 14th and seeing their reactions after the letter was delivered during the long rain. there was a huge demand for leap year cards, which was when women were allowed to pop the question. Funny cards were created featuring large females who were in pursuit of tiny males. But while the client is still there, the sending of leap year cards was not a huge success for long.