Today, the Valentine Cupid is seen as one of the most popular Valentine’s Day characters (for Galentine’s Day too!). He’s an iconic symbol of love and romance, but his journey to becoming As Valentine’s Day became more convenient, Cupid imagery only continued to grow. Valentine's Day card, featuring a childlike Cupid, circa 1910s Courtesy of Hallmark Archives / Hallmark Cards, Inc. 18th century – Cupid with his arrow became the main motif on Valentine’s Day cards, symbolizing love and passion. Today, Cupid is one of the most recognizable symbols of Valentine’s Day, alongside hearts and roses. Antique Valentines Card Origins of the Chubby Cupid with the Arrow of Love Cupid may seem like a strange figure to slap on Valentine’s Day cards, but his connection to love and romance dates back centuries. Before he was a chubby, winged cherub, Cupid was a fearsome deity. By the time the 19th century rolled around, Cupid had become one of the defining symbols of Valentine’s Day, thanks to his mischievous match-making powers. Hearts. The heart shape, like Cupid, has ancient origins; but it only started symbolizing love in the 13th and 14th centuries, according to TIME magazine. The shape was originally used for There are six main Valentine’s Day symbols: hearts, love birds, roses, Cupid, love knots, and Valentine’s Day cards (love notes). During the month of February, you’re bound to see at least a few of them! There are some other minor Valentine’s day symbols, but those six are the most closely associated with the holiday. Shakespeare also considered Valentine’s Day a day for lovers, and associated Cupid with love. By the 16th century, Valentine’s Day and Cupid were established cultural symbols of love, and they eventually coalesced on greeting cards. At this time, cards were enormously popular across Europe, Valentine’s cards chief among them. Hall Bros. - known today as Hallmark – sold its first Valentine’s Day card in 1913 and began producing their own designs in 1916. According to Hallmark, approximately 145 million cards are sent for Valentine’s Day each year. Cupid The idea of Cupid, the Roman god of love, is another symbol that has evolved over centuries. Discover the rich symbolism of Cupid, the iconic figure of love, in our insightful article. Explore his representation of desire, connection, and transformation across cultures, especially during beloved celebrations like Valentine's Day. Delve into Cupid's origins in ancient mythology and his evolution through art and literature, revealing how he continues to inspire romantic gestures and But Cupid’s image did not stay the same in Valentine’s lore. By the mid-1800s, Cupid was looking less literary and more marketable. As Leigh Eric Schmidt, a professor of religion and politics at Washington University in St. Louis, writes in “The Fashioning of a Modern Holiday: St. Valentine’s Day, 1840-1870,” Americans in the mid 1800s repurposed the holiday, and Cupid’s image shifted. 18th century – Cupid with his arrow became the main motif on Valentine’s Day cards, symbolizing love and passion. Today, Cupid is one of the most recognizable symbols of Valentine’s Day, alongside hearts and roses. Antique Valentines Card Origins of the Chubby Cupid with the Arrow of Love Cupid Guide To Loves Messenger | Luxury Valentine's Day Why Cupid Matters: Unlocking the Secrets of Love's Eternal Icon Who is Cupid, and why has this cherubic figure captured our hearts for centuries? Get ready for a whirlwind tour that's more than just arrows and heart-shaped cards. We're diving into four fascinating realms: Cupid's mythology, symbolism, cultural impact, and yes—even his Love is in the air. Today is Valentine’s Day, when sweethearts celebrate by giving their lovers flowers, balloons, chocolates or lace trimmed cards with heart felt verses expressing their love. Celebrate love and romance with the Valentine's Day Symbols Word Search!This medium-level puzzle is a fun way to explore classic symbols of love and affection. Search for words like "heart," "cupid," "roses," "chocolate," "dove," and "love letter." Just as Cupid represents Valentine’s Day, each holiday has its own symbolic items. For more holiday symbols check out our posts on the Chinese New Year symbols, Mardi Gras symbols, St. Patrick’s Day symbols, Halloween symbols and the symbols of Thanksgiving. Who is Cupid and other Valentine’s Day Cupid FAQs Outside of hearts, no symbol of Valentine’s Day is more potent than Cupid. Usually depicted as a winged, chubby little boy, the mischievous imp has wielded his bow on greeting cards, chocolate boxes, and other love-themed sundries for more than a century. By the time the 19th century rolled around, Cupid had become one of the defining symbols of Valentine’s Day, thanks to his mischievous match-making powers. Hearts The heart shape, like Cupid, has ancient origins; but it only started symbolizing love in the 13th and 14th centuries, according to TIME magazine . Discover the history & mythology of Cupid, including his love story with Psyche, facts and how he became the symbol of love, especially during Valentine's Day. Even then, the heart in question wasn’t quite the shape that’s recognizable today. Francesco Barberino's Documenti d'amore, circa 1320 The Shape of the Heart by Pierre Vinken. Elsevier, 2000. Cupid (A Symbol of Valentine’s Day) Cupid, as the Romans called him, was first introduced in the mythology of the Greeks as Eros, the literal personification of love.
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