What is Valentines Day

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Valentines Day

The most romantic of days that we associate with love and passion, the day where we like to spoil that special someone by sending them flowers and gifts to let them know how much they mean to us, but where did Valentines day come from?

Origins of Valentines Day

While we know that the Catholic Church recognises at least three separate saints named Valentines or Valentinus, the true origins of the day that we all know of as Valentine’s day are a little bit murky. One particular legend professes that (saint) Valentine was a priest that served during the third century in Rome. At this time Emperor Claudius II pronounced that unmarried men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, with this he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, contending the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Read more about Saint Valentines

Others attribute Valentine’s day to a pagan fertility festival which was created to honour Faunus, the Roman God of Agriculture, this festival took place on February 15th and was called Lupercalia. What we do know is that the Roman Pope Gelasius at the end of the 5th century officially declared the date of February 14 to be “St. Valentine’s Day.” It was not, however, until the 1300s, though, that St Valentine’s Day began its association with love and romance, this tradition started by Geoffrey Chaucer, a medieval poet, when he decreed that the February feast of St. Valentinus is said to have first started from the belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.

Shortly after Chaucer, William Shakespeare’s love, Ophelia, referred to herself as Hamlet’s Valentine. By now both Chaucer’s and Shakespeare’s romanticism of St Valentine’s Day in their work soon began to gain popularity and spread throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. In 1415, Charles, the Duke of Orleans wrote love letters  to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his untimely capture at the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry V even hired a writer to compose a Valentine’s letter to Catherine of Valois, this it is believed to be part of the reason why love-letter writing began its association with the day.

Gift Ideas for Valentine’s day, view our range of romantic flowers and gifts.

The majority of modern day Saint Valentine traditions have a lot in common with those of the past, although in modern times the tradition has grown to include spending quality time with loved ones. It has become an expectation that couples will do something special together on Valentine’s Day, such as have a romantic dinner. One of the original customs of associating Saint Valentine with a Red Rose has survived today, with a single Red Rose being affiliated with love and romance.

Find out why Roses make the perfect gift

Valentines Day, on the most romantic of days, nothing quite says  “Be My Valentine”, like a perfect single red rose, a tasteful rose bouquet or one of our deluxe rose options of 24 Red Roses in a long Holywood box, or chocolates and a teddy bear, all of are revered as romantic go-to’s. Spoil your loved one with a romantic delivery of exquisite flowers and a beautiful hamper full of luxury.

Another romantic tradition associated with Valentines day is sending your loved ones some romantic poetry

Take a look at these Valentines day poems:

You are
As we watch the sun go down,
I want to let you know,
my love for you is forever;
I’ll never let you go.
You’re the one I’ve been searching for,
the one I’ve finally found;
without you in my life,
my world wouldn’t go round.
The love you bring into my heart,
which is so true and kind,
is something in no other
I could truly find.
You’re the only one for me.
God tells me so
deep within my heart, mind, body and soul.
Today isn’t just an ordinary Valentine’s Day.
It’s all about me and you,
about the love we share,
and how it will forever continue to grow.
It’s not all about the chocolates or the dozen roses;
it’s about the love we found,
how much we’ve been blessed.
Everything happens for a reason.
I believe this statement is true;
that’s why you were sent to me
and I was sent to you.
I’ve never been more happy,
as I’ve been with you.
Even through the rough times,
we always make it through;
To be with you for eternity
is all I want for me and you.
All I want to say,
on our very first Valentine’s Day, is:
I may not be your first love,
but I promise, with all my heart,
that I will be that one from up above,
your one and only, true love!

Happy Valentine’s Day!
By Genny R. Tajalle

My First, My Last, My Valentine
I’ve never imagined that there can be this day.
A day that love will find its way
Out of my heart and into your soul.
These feelings I have are beyond my control.

All my life I have waited patiently
For a goddess like you, so beautiful, so lovely.
Words can’t express the way I feel.
These feelings toward you are all for real.

You are the reason why I go on.
Eternity can’t separate this special bond.
This heart of mine is reserved for you.
Forever it is yours; this love is true.

I’ll be your first and you’ll be my last.
My world, my everything, till my time has passed.
I will always love you until the end of time.
MY LOVE, MY SWEETHEART, MY VALENTINE!
By Sokea Meas

Interested in knowing more about Mothers Day? Read more about Mothers Day