For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.
It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."
-Judy Garland-
Valentine’s day is very personal experience depending on if you are a child, single, engaged, married, widowed, or divorced.
Who we are also dictates what kind of a "Valentine" we receive i.e. we might be a mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, grandmother, grandfather, granddaughter, grandson, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a work associate or just a “friend”. There so many kinds of "Valentine's" to give. And we all want to be the recipient of a special Valentine.
we would love to hear about your special Valentine's traditions
Click on the comment link below and tell us about your.
History of Valentine Cards - It seems that the writing of special notes and letters for Valentine’s Day gained widespread popularity in the 1700's. At that time the romantic "cards" were handwritten, on ordinary writing paper.
Valentine greetings have been very notable since the Middle Ages, when impending lovers articulated or sang their meaningful verses.
Written Valentines began to crop up after 1400.
The initial valentine well known as “poetical or affectionate addresses” is attributed to Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415. Charles, Duke of Orleans, while cramped in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt, the immature Duke reportedly bid his time by writing regretful verses for his mother in France.
Paper Valentines originated in the 1500's, being exchanged in Europe and were very distinguished in England.
Papers made especially for Valentine greetings began to be marketed in the 1820's.
Did you know that the first Valentine’s Day card of embossed lace paper was produced in the United States shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828- 1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts?
After her graduation at Mount Holyoke College in1847 Esther received her first English Valentine.
Esther was so enthralled with the beautiful valentine she ordered paper, lace, and florals from England to start making her own Valentine’s.
Esther took orders from friends for Valentine’s cards she made. Esther was very surprised to find that she could not keep-up with all the Valentine card orders by herself.
So Esther recruited friends to help her make the cards.
Esther placed her first ad in the Worcester Newspaper, "The Daily Spy," for orders.
The Assembly line of Valentine orders and card making made Esther Howlands a pioneer in the Valentine manufacturing industry. If you would like to see a few of her cards checkout this link:
http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/ehowlandvals.htm
Click on the "comment" link below and describe the most memorable Valentine Card you ever received.
The Valentine’s rituals observed here in the
United States of giving Valentine’s cards, chocolates, diamonds, flowers, Roses, having a romantic dinner, and of course sharing bubbly champagne has been a ritual since midway thru the 20th century.
Some "Romeo's" even propose to "Juliet" on Valentine's day with great flourish, romance, and pomp.
Such was the case last Valentine's Day we had a young man, Matt, surprise his fiancee by proposing to her in Terra Steakhouse during their Valentine's Day dinner. The scene......... romantic dancing firelight, the soft glow of candlelight, champagne flutes filled with tiny bubbles, and beautiful fragrant roses. the proposal......Heather said "My boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed to me with the most fantastic engagement ring I have ever seen....…it was so romantic and sweet…..I said YES!!!"
It is always wonderful to hear how couple's met or how they proposed.
Please take a few minutes out of your busy day and let us know.
Just click on the "comment" link below and tell us about it.
It has always been a fun "tradition" in the United States for grade school children and their teacher's to give valentine’s card or treats to their classmates on Valentine’s Day. It's always interesting to see what the popular Valentine's Cards are each year when my granddaughter brings home her decorate Valentine's box full of cards.
Finding the "Right" Card...........I have found it to be an interesting “adventure” just to find the right card to give to my Valentine on Valentine’s Day.
There are so many stores and so many cards all lined up in rows that it seems to be an overwhelming task.
I find myself reading so many cards that I end up seeing stars instead of hearts. Reading, reading, reading one card after another and never seeming to find the right one. I finally give up and opt to make my own perfect valentine card…it takes time, thought, planning, supplies, secrecy, and patience but, it is so worth it to see the look of surprise and the look of joy on my Valentine’s face.
Other times I have picked up the very first Valentine's card at the store to read and was amazed that it was the “perfect” Valentine's card for me to give!
Around the world millions of dollars will be spent on
red roses this coming Valentine’s Day.
A thornless rose means the receiver need never fear the giver
A rose leaf invites hope
A rose garland or rose wreath indicates superiority and merit
A full bunch of open blooms indicates gratitude
A single unopened rose bud speaks of beauty and innocence leading to love
Red roses symbolize true love and passion
Pink roses shows happiness
Yellow roses friendship
White roses purity
Red and white together in a bouquet speak of unity
Pink and white together symbolize joy and contentment
Tea roses promise memories to come
Cabbage roses act as ambassadors of love
Musk roses are charming
Christmas rose calms anxiety
Valentine's Day is celebrated on two different dates in
Japan.
First on February 14th, ladies present gifts to their boyfriends and/or any man close to them.
Ladies usually give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day in Japan.
And there are two types of chocolates for Valentine's Day:
One type of chocolate called giri-choco is bought for friends, bosses, colleagues and close male friends.
‘Giri' in Japan means obligation hence these types of chocolates has no romantic association. Ladies make sure they pass on giri-choco to please all men close to them as it is seen that men who do not receive any chocolate feel embarrassed.
Chocolates for boyfriends, lovers or husbands are special ones and are called hon-mei.
Many Japanese girls think that it is not true love if they buy Valentine's day chocolates for their boyfriend and honmei -choco is usually prepared by girls themselves. Men feel lucky if they receive honmei -choco on Valentine's Day.
The favor is returned to ladies on the White Day celebrated on March 14th when men pamper women who gave them gifts on Valentine’s Day the month before.
White Day celebration in Japan is said to have been initiated as a marketing tool by marshmallow chocolate company in the 1960s. On White Day Japanese men are supposed to return gifts of chocolates to the ladies who gave them chocolates on February 14th. The color of the chocolate is white.
Mostly, Valentine's Day and White Day festivals are celebrated in Japan by those under 20 years of age.
Valentine's Day balls and parties are organized all over
Canada where people express love for their spouses and sweethearts and enjoy to the day to the hilt with gifts of Roses, chocolates, candies and cards.
In
Denmark every year Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th with extreme joy and verve. People in between the ages of 16-30 more actively participate in the festival's. Valentine’s Day is a time for loving by giving and receiving love tokens.
It is the norm to take off from their busy schedules to celebrate the festival of love with their sweetheart.
Valentine's Day is a much-celebrated festival in
Australia. It seems that 90 percent of the people aged 18-24 years and 45 percent of those 50 years of age and older celebrate Valentine’s day.
Valentine's Day is an opportunity to strengthen bonds of love with family, friends, colleagues and neighbors with simple acts of love.
A very old Valentine’s tradition in
Britain and Italy was for unmarried girls to wake up before sunrise on Valentine's Day. They believed that the first man they saw on Valentine's Day (or someone who looks like him) would marry them within a year. So girls used to wake up before sunrise and stand by their window, waiting for this man (her husband to be) to pass by.
William Shakespeare, even mentions this tradition in Hamlet (1603). When Ophelia, sings:
Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your valentine!
The celebration of Valentine's Day is a recent occurrence in
India.
Although some see it as a western import and hesitate to celebrate, there still is a large number of those who love the feeling behind the beautiful and romantic
The Valentine’s celebration is considered a day when people express their affection for one another.
To them February 14th signifies LOVE.
"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven."
-Karen Sunde-
