Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century. Why the history of Valentine's Day is so complicated Learn how St. Valentine, an ancient Roman festival, and the poet Geoffrey Chaucer all contribute to the history of Valentine's Day. In the United States, Valentine’s Day gained popularity in the early 19th century. Esther A. Howland, known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” began producing and selling ornate, mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. The history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Roman and Christian traditions, evolving over centuries into the celebration of love and affection that we recognize today. Despite its commercialization, many people view Valentine's Day as an opportunity to express their love and appreciation for their partners, friends, and family members. Pagan Origins 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 commercialisation of Valentine’s Day. In the mid-19th century the Valentine’s card travelled across the Atlantic. Cards rapidly gained popularity in America, where they were initially advertised as a British fashion. Advanced American technologies meant that more elaborate cards were produced cheaply, encouraging their popularity yet Everyone loves a good love story, but the history of Valentine's Day is a bit different from the romanticized version of the holiday recognized today. While February 14 is widely celebrated with sweet Valentine's Day treats, heartfelt Valentine's Day gifts, and romantic dinners, few people are familiar with the holiday's true origins. By the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official "Valentine's Day cards." Universal Images Group / Getty Images A Valentine’s Day postcard from 1910. By the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official "Valentine's Day cards." The rest, as they say, is history. Universal Images Group / Getty Images Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday celebrated each year on February 14. Learn about St. Valentine, Valentine's Day quotes and the ancient origins of Valentine's Day. The history of Valentine’s Day—and the story of its patron saint—is shrouded in mystery. February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know St. Valentine, a name that is synonymous with love and romance across the globe, lived at a time when the Roman Empire was at its zenith. He is often best remembered for the act of marrying couples in secret defiance of the Roman Emperor's bans. However, the truth about St. Valentine is far more complex, woven from a mixture of historical fragments, religious tradition, and folklore. This has Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Valentine’s Day only became associated with love in the late Middle Ages, the early accounts of the two Valentines are typical martyrdom As the Internet. became more widely used, digital Valentines gained popularity and e-card Valentines began to be sent in addition to or in lieu of sending paper Valentine’s Day cards to lovers, friends and other loved ones. About this Timeline’s Curator: John Alanis is a well known author of 10 books on Dating and Men’s issues. “People love the idea that there were these wonderful eras before our own time when people celebrated Valentine’s Day in the most authentic way,” says Elizabeth Nelson, a 19th-century pop culture expert, who began researching Valentine’s Day three decades ago and literally wrote the book on marketing the holiday. “But there was always The origin of Valentines Day is said to have begun as an early Roman festival of fertility. In the 5 th century, Pope Gelasius I proclaimed February 14 th to be Valentine’s Day in honor of two Valentines: Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni, both martyred by Rome. In the early part of the 20th century, Valentine’s Day humor began to shift away from insulting Vinegar Valentines and moved toward bad puns of all sorts. This example from a set of 12 postcards reveal that fruits and vegetables could be enlisted as the subject matter for valentines, as long as they were accompanied by a pun-inspired inscription. Schmidt gives equal time to the rise of the comic valentine, which parodied the sentimentality of the mainstream. These could be lewd and racist, but above all they were misogynistic, a clear response to the emerging struggle for women’s rights in the late 1840s and 1850s. From ancient martyrs to heart-shaped chocolates, the history of Valentine’s Day is rich with fascinating stories and misconceptions. 1. Saint Valentine and His Miraculous Love Letter. One of the most enduring myths associated with Valentine’s Day is the story of Saint Valentine sending the very first Valentine’s card.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |