History of Valentine’s Day
Every February 14 lovers all over the world surprise each other with chocolates, flowers, romantic dinners and unique gifts and celebrate, maybe, the most romantic and awaited day of the year.
If you’re pondering over how this holiday came about, these interesting Valentine’s Day facts can give you an insight.
Legends About St. Valentine
Theer are many legends about who St. Valentine, the holiday, technically honors. As the story goes, Saint Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome in the 3rd century. That-time Emperor of Rome Claudius’s II ignored him and ban on marriage, illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love. But soon he was caught and sentenced to death.
Another legend put forward that soldiers killed Saint Valentine for helping Christians run away from prison in Rome. First ever “valentine” message, it is said, was written by himself, a letter signed “From your Valentine.”
Roman Pope Gelasius officially announced February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day” in the 5th century. But only in the Middle Ages, when courtly love thrived sending love poems to lovers, people associated with the “lovebirds” of early spring and it ecame a holiday of romance and love.
Do you know a symbol of Valentine’s Day? Have you ever heard about Caravaggio’s “Love Conquers All” painting? – Cupid, a cherub with bow and arrow. – Right! Cupid was famous as a Greek god of love named Eros. He was handsome and immortal man with the power to make people fall in love.
Esther A. Howland, also famous as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” was the first person to sell mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards made with lace and ribbons.
According to the National Retail Foundation, Americans spent over $27 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2020. People mostly buy chocolate boxes, flowers, greeting cards and jewelry. We offer you personalized gifts to surprise your special person with unique, long-lasting, fun and high-quality gifts.
