Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
Happy Valentines-Day
There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer.
Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution.
While the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates, and other gifts originated in the UK, Valentine’s Day still remains connected with various regional customs in England. In Norfolk, a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.
Today, according to Hallmark, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas).
Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to let that special someone know how you feel about them. Whether it be a spouse, a new boyfriend or girlfriend, or a best friend, let these thoughtful gift ideas show them how much you really care:
1. Flowers: A bouquet of roses will stand the test of time, just like your love story. You have two options: Assemble it ahead of time and arrange it in a vase, or do it together during your next at-home date night.
2. A better bath: With a bath basket, you are not only transforming a standard household bathroom into a spa-like retreat, but you are also giving the gift of self-care. Fill the basket with soothing bath oils, fragrant bath bombs, calming soaking salts and aromatic candles.
3. Tickets for two: Two tickets to a special event shows that you are not only paying attention to your loved one’s favorite things, but that you also support their interests. Be it the opera, a basketball game, or the concert of a beloved artist, give the gift of a one-of-a-kind date night, and amazing memories.
4. Chocolates: Spell out your love with chocolate truffles. The taste will definitely spell love!
5. More time in the evening: Delivering wholesome, nutritious ingredients and recipes to doorsteps, a meal subscription service takes some of the heavy-lifting out of menu prep and grocery shopping, giving your Valentine more time to spend on personal pursuits.
As you make your Valentine’s Day plans, remember that the best gifts will not only dazzle and impress your special someone, but also make them feel cared for and appreciated. Courtesy of Statepoint & Wikipedia.