Be my Valentine! How many times have you said this? And how many times have you waited for the postman and then turned away disappointed – no card? And how many unrequited hearts will wilt this time around too? Do you have a plan?
Soooo many questions eh? The whole world revolves around love, doesn’t it, as the song goes “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love….” With so much heartache around these days, economic fears, hate crimes etc etc its so lovely to see young people falling in love and of course unrequited love is the most heart-breaking…
Where did Valentine’s Day spring from?
Saint Valentine’s Day, better known as Valentine’s Day, or correctly the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on February 14 every year.
Today Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, even in India! (Although it has caused some real problems with fundamentalists in past years.)
St. Valentine’s Day, initially was a religious celebration of an early Christian saint named Valentinus. It is said that he was imprisoned by the Romans for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry, and for ministering to Christians, who were being persecuted by the Roman leaders. During his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer and before his execution, he wrote a note signing it, “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.
This association with romantic love grew in the Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into the only occasion when lovers could express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering sweet meats, cakes and sending cards (known as “valentines“).
Valentine’s Day is symbolised with heart-shaped boxes, chocolates, pillows, cards and of course the figure of the winged Cupid with his little bow and arrow “Little arrows in the air…….shooting arrows everywhere.” Unfortunately since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to ugly, mass-produced greeting cards often garish pinks or reds, both colours associated with love and romance: and yet the clichéd ‘dozen red roses’ and the pink heart shaped box of chocolates always works!
Aren’t these cards just beautiful? Shame the practice of creating your own beautiful confections and composing a love poem has withered away. If you have created something for your Valentine, please share!
If you haven’t found or created a gift, visit us at Tiffinware for gift ideas for Him and gift ideas for Her.
From all of us at Tiffinware – Have a great, eventful, happy and fruitful St Valentine’s Day!
Tiffinware 