Valentines Day <3

Valentine’s Day is held on the 14th February, and it is a time to express gratitude and love to someone - whether it be friends, family or lovers. Around the world, candies, chocolates, sweets, teddy bears, flowers and many other souvenirs are exchanged. But where did this originate from?

History of Valentine’s Day

The history of Valentine’s Day is one that is shrouded in mystery. All we know from the ancient myths is that February was considered a month of romance, which contains traditions dating back to Christian and Roman times. It was celebrated to commemorate the death of the martyr Valentine. Some people claimed that the Christian Church may have decided to set Valentine’s Day to ‘Christianize’ the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to the founders of Rome; Remus and Romulus, and the Roman god of agriculture; Faunus.

At the end of the 5th century, it was outlawed and Pope Gelasius declared 14th February Valentine’s Day. The idea of February 14 being the start of the bird mating season in France and England further added to the fact that Valentine's Day should be a romantic day.

Valentine’s gift ideas

Roses are the most common symbol of love, but did you know that roses weren’t always the go-to Valentine’s flower? In the 19th century, people packed a bunch of different flowers into a bouquet, each symbolising deep meanings and messages. The idea was not just to send their love and affection, but also to send different messages and signals. A bouquet with yellow acacia meant “concealed love”, jonquils meaning “I desire a return of affection”, and snowdrops meaning “hope (that the recipient will love them back)”.

In the 18th-19th century, puzzle purses were a popular gift amongst people. A puzzle purse is a sheet of paper with writing encoded into it. If you managed to solve it, great! There might even be a small gift in the middle. The folds were usually numbered in case the person couldn’t solve it or the puzzle was too intricate.

While true love can’t be bought, a gift for your Valentine’s can make them feel extra special. On Valentine’s Day, even the smallest of gestures can mean a lot. Just showing someone you remembered them on this special occasion is thoughtful enough.

Delving deeper into the symbols of love

Cupid

Who is Cupid? Many people often conjure up the picture of a chubby baby with wings holding a teeny weeny bow, but that wasn’t always the case. Long before his association with Valentine’s Day and the Romans who adopted and renamed him, he was known to the Greeks as Eros, the handsome god of love. Armed with a golden bow and arrow which could make people fall in love, he was considered a force to reckon with as he was believed to make people fall in love with anything, even inanimate objects.

Doves

In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was usually depicted as riding a chariot pulled by giant doves. Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty and romance. This also takes us back to the Middle Ages, which believed that all birds choose their mates on Valentine’s Day. They represent loyalty and undying love as doves tend to stay with their mates during mating season. Male doves help their loved ones to care and incubate their young, further enhancing their image as devoted, loving birds.

Knots

This might be the most unexpected symbol, but it has a deep meaning. Knots are a symbol of love because by looping around itself continuously, a knot has no start or end point. When two things are knotted together, they are unbreakable and have an eternal connection.