The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Fowls,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, [1] is celebrated annually on February 14. [2] It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine , and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in Howland’s contribution to the commercialization of Valentine’s Day helped establish the holiday as a significant occasion for gift-giving and expressing love. The Commercialization of Valentine’s Day. The modern celebration of Valentine’s Day as we know it today began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 1840s, Esther Howland, known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” started selling the first mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards in the U.S. This turned Valentine’s Day into a huge commercial event, with printed cards replacing handwritten love notes. The Chocolate Boom 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. In 1913 Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine’s card, representing a key development in the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day. Valentine cards with a golfing theme, 1911. The left card was for the US market, the right card for the British market. 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. The explosion of love continued in the 19th century with the creation of the first heart-shaped box of chocolates—a quintessential symbol of Valentine's Day—at the hands of Richard Cadbury. To make things even sweeter, the New England Confectionery Company (Necco) started to produce the earliest version of Conversation Hearts , which are Valentine's Day always falls on February 14, meaning that the day of the week varies year on year. In 2025, Valentine's Day will fall on a Friday for the first time since 2020. Where did it come When did Valentine’s Day cards become commercially produced? Valentine’s Day cards started to be mass-produced in the 19th century. Esther A. Howland, an American, is often credited with creating the first commercial Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. Why are roses associated with this day? Roses have been associated with love and beauty Valentine's Day has quite the history. Learn about why we celebrate Valentine's Day, the meaning of the holiday, when Valentine's Day is this year, why Valentine's Day is on February 14, and more. Making Every Valentine’s Day Message Count. As Valentine's Day approaches remember that the best messages come from the heart. Whether you're sharing a sweet note with a partner, a funny text with a friend or a meaningful sentiment with a family member, it's the thought and care behind your words that make all the difference. 4. Cupid has roots in Greek mythology. Watch out around Valentine’s Day, or else you may be struck by Cupid’s arrow. According to Ti me, the ubiquitous cherub can be traced back to 700 B.C.In In a 1981 academic article, the late University of Kansas English professor Jack B. Oruch argued that Chaucer's 1375 poem “Parlement of Foules” was the first to record St. Valentine's Day as a Let’s make Valentine’s Day easy, fun, and filled with friendship! ️ . You can find all the activities I’m sharing about here! Start the day with Valentine’s Day Morning Work. I love having a morning message pulled up on my Smart Board when students arrive in the morning! Students can read the message and see their morning work for the Making Your Mark on Valentine’s Traditions – DIY Ideas. Valentine’s Day offers a unique opportunity to bridge past and present. By understanding and incorporating our ancestral traditions, we celebrate not just love, but our cultural identity. This Valentine’s Day, consider how you can honor both your heart and your heritage. Today is Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day. The first Valentine's Day was in the year 496 AD! Video, 00:01:11 What is Valentine's Day and how did it start? Published. 14 February 2021 However, in the mix and anxiety of love euphoria that is dominating everywhere, it's normal to have some thoughts about the first Valentine's Day and how Valentine's Day started. Discover why you celebrate Valentine's Day and how you can make yours unique. It's the small details that matter, after all. How Valentine's Day Began Contrary to popular belief, Hallmark did not invent Valentine’s Day. Initially, Hallmark’s founder, J.C. Hall, began selling Valentine’s Day postcards in 1910. As greeting cards gained popularity, Hallmark began printing its very own greeting cards. By 1916, the very first Hallmark Valentine’s Day cards appeared on store shelves. Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history.
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