Valentine's Day was invented by greeting card companies. The idea that Valentine's Day, which falls yearly on Feb. 14, was a cynical gambit by greeting card companies, came with a line of The first Valentine’s greeting: While the practice of sending love messages dates back centuries, the oldest known Valentine’s greeting still in existence today is a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. In the 1700s, something recognizable as a form of the modern greeting card began to be seen for Valentine’s Day. Pre-made cards weren’t available yet, so these early cards were handmade, and usually delivered secretly by slipping them under a door. The first known Valentine’s Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in the early 15th century. However, the tradition of exchanging cards became more widespread in the 18th century. The Catholic Church may have established St. Valentine's Day to honour these two martyrs. Legend says that one of these men, Saint Valentine of Terni, had officiated weddings for Roman soldiers in secret, going against the emperor's wishes, making him seen to some as a proponent of love. It's commonly believed Valentine's Day was invented by greeting card companies. But, while they've certainly made a mint off it, that is fiction. According to this tale, St Valentine wrote his inamorata a note signed “from your Valentine”: the first Valentine’s greeting. However, while this fanciful story is compelling, it is unlikely to be true. The next milestone in the history of Valentine’s Day came in 1382, when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote his poem Parlement of Foules. Contrary to what some may believe, Valentine’s Day was not invented by greeting card companies or chocolate manufacturers. Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in some form since the days of the Roman Empire. Valentine’s Day greetings became popular in 15th century France with an annual feast day of food, singing and dancing to mark the romantic occasion. The first Valentine’s cards were made in the 18th century and were handmade and decorated with romantic symbols and poetry. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and it’s often said that the greetings card company Hallmark invented the celebration in a ploy to sell cards. But is this really true? And if not, why do we celebrate romance on the 14th of February and who was Saint Valentine? Naser al-Din Shah Qajar did not take his wife with him during his trip to Europe and he sent her a greeting card from distance on Valentine's Day. This greeting card is available in Iranian museums. [134] Since the mid-2000s, Valentine's Day has become increasingly popular in Iran, especially among young people. In 1375, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer referred to St. Valentine’s Day as a day for romance in his poem, “Parliament of Foules,” further solidifying its meaning. As written valentines became popular, commercial printing expanded Valentine’s Day cards throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. 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 speaks of a tradition of writing “valentines” to your sweetheart. (Although it is not known if the tradition actually existed or was invented by Chaucer). Other written accounts of St. Valentine’s Day being associated with love include Shakespeare’s Hamlet and writings by John Donne. We’ve probably all heard the story that Valentine’s Day was invented by marketers and card companies. That it’s just a commercial holiday with no real meaning. At American Greetings, we’re here to make finding the perfect Valentine’s Day card sweet and simple. We’ve got valentine cards for every person and relationship, whether you’re celebrating with your true love, family members, friends or the kiddos, offering styles that are cute, funny or romantic. (KGTV) - Was Valentine's Day created by greeting card companies to make money? No. The holiday was around long before mass-produced greeting cards came to America in the mid 1800's. Was Valentine's Day invented by greeting card companies? the country's own version of Valentine's Day, on 25th January. St. Dwynwen was a Welsh princess who was so unlucky in love that she Valentine’s Day traces its roots back to the ancient Roman fertility festival, Lupercalia, and to legends about St. Valentine, a 3rd century A.D. priest executed for continuing to wed couples despite a prohibition on marriage. In the centuries since then, lovers, friends, and sometimes even foes have exchanged valentine cards. These 7 free Valentine printables offer simple ideas to infuse love and creativity into your life. From DIY greeting cards to living room wall art, show friends and family just how much you care.
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