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The history of Valentine’s Day. There is a tradition of baking a cake in the shape of a heart, which is given to the loved one. United Kingdom Tel When people were converted to Christianity the pagan and Christian festivals were merged; the festival of Lupercalia was put back a day and celebrated on St. Valentine's day, February 14. The old pagan customs still continued and in Britain up to the beginning of the present century it was customary for local lads and lasses to draw lots for Today, Valentine’s Day cards remain a cornerstone of the celebration, with millions exchanged annually across the UK. Flowers and Chocolates: Timeless Symbols of Love The tradition of gifting flowers on Valentine’s Day has its origins in the Victorian era, when the “language of flowers” (floriography) allowed people to convey emotions The Historical Origins of Valentine's Day in the UK. Valentine's Day, now synonymous with love and affection, has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. The traditions and customs associated with this day have evolved over the years, influenced by a combination of pagan rituals and Christian beliefs. This led to the creation of mass-produced paper Valentine’s cards by the 19 th century, with Valentine’s as we know it being born. What are typical Valentine’s Day traditions in the UK? Today almost half the UK population spend somewhere in the region of £1.3 billion each year on their very own special Valentine! But of course, you are reading the account of these ancient traditions thanks to that wonderful invention known as the World Wide Web, which has spawned a whole new digital way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Perhaps Chocolate gifting became a Valentine’s Day staple thanks to Richard Cadbury’s invention of the heart-shaped chocolate box in the 1800s. Today, chocolates are one of the top gifts exchanged on Valentine’s Day, with everything from fancy truffles to giant chocolate bars making their way into hearts and hands. The evolution of Valentine’s Day as a romantic celebration. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that Valentine’s Day became definitively associated with love and romance. It was commonly believed in France and England that 14 February marked the beginning of the mating season for birds, further reinforcing the idea of love and romance on this Historians do know that Valentine’s Day as we know it now was firmly established in British tradition by the 1600s as a reference to it appeared in Shakespeare’s Hamlet which began being performed in 1601. Sending love notes to your betrothed, or beloved if you’d not yet made the leap, seems to have been standard practice from 1797. The mid-19th century marked the beginning of many of the commercialised Valentine's Day traditions we know today. Victorian men wooed women with flowers, Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates , and the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, began stamping out an early version of Conversation Hearts. Associating Valentine’s Day with romantic love only began in the Middle Ages. This may have been due to Geoffrey Chaucer, who in his 1382 poem “Parlement of Foules”, linked Saint Valentine’s Day to birds choosing their mates: “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day / When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” In Britain, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with elegance, charm and romance. There is custom here where children sin special songs of love and are gifted with treats like candies, fruits, money and sometimes specially baked Valentine buns made of raisins, plums and caraway seeds. Valentine’s Day is the holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. Valentine’s Day in the USA: Family & Friends. Adults also exchange Valentine’s Day gifts and cards with family and friends. I always gave a Valentine’s Day Card to my parents. And today, we send each other e-cards for Valentine’s Day! The cards might have short, sweet messages like “You’re the best mom ever! Exchanging cards and gifts - often flowers or chocolates - as well as enjoying a romantic date with your loved one, is customary on Valentine’s Day here in the UK. The evolution of Valentine’s Day as a romantic celebration. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that Valentine’s Day became definitively associated with love and romance. It was commonly believed in France and England that 14 February marked the beginning of the mating season for birds, further reinforcing the idea of love and romance on this This led to the creation of mass-produced paper Valentine’s cards by the 19 th century, with Valentine’s as we know it being born. What are typical Valentine’s Day traditions in the UK? There isn’t a recorded tradition of Valentine’s Day in the UK before this mention, and further descriptions of February 14 th being Valentine’s Day don’t happen again until 1400 when there was allegedly an “annual celebration of love” (that may or may not have actually happened!) and then again in a 15 th century valentine. Whilst Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine, a priest who lived during the third century, the day does not have its roots in Christian tradition but rather in paganism. Many historians believe the day originated from the Roman pagan festival of fertility called Lupercalia , which was held on 15th February every year. What are typical Valentine’s Day traditions in the UK? Cards, flowers, chocolates, romantic mini-breaks, meals for two - you name it, any romantic stereotype you can think of is popular on
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