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Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?

So, the time of February 14th is not far off again. Christmas is over and a lot of people are still in debt, however it’s now time to start getting those pennies together for your loved ones gifts (unless you never want to here the end of it!) including chocolates, wine, champagne and flowers.

To me personally, Valentine’s Day is not my favourite day. Why do you have to dedicate just one day out of the year to show someone that you really “love” them? Wouldn’t it just make more sense to buy chocolate gifts, champagne and wine or send cards to your girl or boyfriend, or even someone that you like at intervals throughout the year?

I asked someone in our office, what do you think about Valentine’s Day?
My colleague (a female) made a face and then proceeded to give me an hundred reasons as to why she despises the 14th Feb, including things such rationale as commercialism, a “waste of time” and a day for people not in relationships to feel small! I can see her point, but there’s a date to celebrate mothers, fathers and grandparents for example, why shouldn’t there be a day to celebrate your loved one too?! Even if you’re not in a relationship though, 14th February is also known as National Singles Awareness Day so, why not dedicate the day to you and treat yourself?

I wanted to understand the history behind why Valentine’s Day is celebrated and where the day came from, but in all frankness there doesn’t seem to be one “story” that fits. So, I have combined a few different legends from my research to perhaps give an idea of where and when the day originated.

Since the 3rd Century, St. Valentine has become the saint of romantic causes. Valentine was a priest who supposedly agreed to conduct marriages in secret, because the Emperor of Rome of the time, Claudius II had posed a ban on marriages for single young men, because he felt that single men made better soldiers than men who were married with wives and children. St. Valentine realised the injustice of the ruling and consequently took matters into his own hands, and carried out marriages in secret until February 4, 207, when he was found out and promptly executed. St Valentine’s Day is celebrated in memory therefore of Valentine’s death. In this legend, Valentine had fallen in love (perhaps with his jailor’s daughter) and sent her a note or a love poem just before his execution, signed, "From your Valentine”. This saying has become the catch phrase that we use today on card, gifts and banners.­­
Another version of events includes the notion that during the Middle Ages, in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February, Valentine's Day should be a day for romance.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated through the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was usual for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection, gifts or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace the hand-written letters due to progression in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged.
In the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all styles of gifts, usually from a man to a woman. Such gifts typically include chocolates and roses presented in a red satin, heart-shaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond and jewellery industry began to promote Valentine's Day. February 14th has come to be related to the generic friendly greeting of "Happy Valentine's Day." For the singletons among us February 14th is affectionately referred to as National Singles Awareness Day.
Don’t be disheartened this 14th February, whether you’re in a relationship, whether you’re single or you like someone, get a card and a gift to celebrate, whether it be chocolates, flowers, champagne or wine for him, for her or even for yourself.

Valentine Gifts on a Slightly Longer than Shoe String Budget – Romantic Personalised Valentine’s Gifts

Yes, yes, yes! That’s JUST what I’ve always wanted (but something I’d never even thought about getting). I love it! Is that a response you hope to evoke from your loved one this Valentine’s Day?

We know that most of your other half’s, whether it be a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife or even a secret valentine have everything they want or will ever need (after all they have you, don’t they?!... ok, I’ll stop with the jokes now!). Maybe it’s time to start thinking out of the box and come up with a special romantic gift this Valentine’s Day, which not only shows your loved one that you can be original and unique, but also shows him or her that you may have spent time and effort actually thinking about the gift you will be giving?

Personalised gifts are often overlooked at Valentine’s and other occasions throughout the year, as they’re not well promoted and you don’t see ads on the street or on tv for them normally. As I’m sure you’re aware, you can get the plastic personalised bookmarks and plastic personalised name keyrings from bookshops on a shoe string budget, which would be ideal for those of you looking for a bargain, but I don’t think they’re particularly romantic and I’m fairly sure they’re not going to get you a ‘yes, yes, yes. I love it!’ response when your girl or guy opens it on 14th February this year, do you?!

What type of romantic personalised Valentine Gifts then?

Personalised gifts show your other half that you know what they like, because they’re very thoughtful and special gift ideas… what selection of personalised valentine’s gifts is available?

For gifts with a little more oomph and for romantic gifts your partner may never have considered, there is always a selection of Personalised Alcoholic Gifts including personalised wine gifts, personalised valentine’s champagne and personalised whisky gifts, starting from £10.

Chin Chin… Personalised valentine’s wine or personalised champagne for your valentine? If your guy or girl likes an alcoholic beverage now and again, personalised labelled wine and champagne gifts are ideal personalised gift ideas. Personalised labelled wine and champagne valentine gifts can be personalised from scratch by designing a label you have created by adding a photo of your boy or girlfriend, or you can even sometimes select a pre-designed valentine’s label if you’re really short on time that you can add your soppy (or sweet!) Valentine’s message onto.

Engraved Valentine’s Wine Gifts and Engraved Champagne Gifts

Treat your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife to a bottle of engraved wine or champagne this Valentine’s Day. These wine and champagne gifts can be personalised with your own custom message, which can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Say, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’ or write your own romantic love poem onto the bottle and choose to make it stand out with a touch of gold and silver leaf luxury. The bottles can either be engraved with gold leaf or silver leaf, giving you a seriously special gift that says whatever you want it to say! Personalised champagne presents start from £23.

Engraved whisky gifts make special romantic personalised valentine’s gift ideas for men and with prices starting at £15 for a special blended malt scotch whisky with your own custom label design, what more can we say to persuade you?!

Other valentine gift ideas that won’t break the bank include personalized Engraved Valentine Gifts, such as silver lighters, blue, red, black and gold coloured lighters as well as a range of engravable zippo lighters. Photo frames, there’s a few to choose from and they really do look good engraved with a custom valentine message.

Design Your Own Mug, how about ‘him’ and ‘her’ mugs for Valentine’s Day and other days in the year to come? These personalised mugs are fabulous and the most affordable on the valentine’s gift menu, prices start from £7.

Valentine’s Day is the 14th February 2009. http://www.valentinesdaygifts4u.co.uk offers you a wide selection of personalised gifts throughout the UK. Don’t forget to order your romantic personalised Valentine gift today to receive it in time for Valentine’s Day! Whether it be personalised wine gifts, personalised champagne gifts, personalised whisky presents, personalized engraved gifts or mugs. Order by 9am Wednesday 11th February to get your personalised valentine gift by 14th February.

How to make a valentine's day card on a budget!

Here are a few interesting and funny tips to make your loved one feel special:

A few ideas for the women!

For Women:

1. If your man is watching his favourite sport or show on TV, don't interrupt unless it's during a commercial and you finish talking by the time the commercials are finished. They don't mind if you talk to them, but your time is more flexible than the game or show they're watching.

2. Yes, sometimes men tune out when you're talking at length about something. Don't get mad, they're just not conditioned to listening to long dissertations about the latest Hollywood gossip, what the latest spring fashion is, or what friend A did to friend B. If the conversation isn't about one of their favourite subjects, be it sports, cars, or themselves, chances are they're going to zone out once in awhile.

3. Give HIM something that he'll appreciate. Not necessarily a cute stuffed animal, or a tie. And it doesn't have to be expensive either. Even if you just pay for dinner once in awhile, he'll appreciate it, unless he's old school and insists on paying when you go out. In that case, you'll have to find something else that will show him you care.

4. Dress up when you greet him at the door. You don't have to be in an evening gown, but something that shows off your curves. Maybe even a tight pair of jeans, a revealing top and high heels. Bonus points when he finds out you're wearing sexy underwear underneath after he throws you on the bed for a little early evening loving.

5. Make him his favourite dinner and serve it to him. You don't have to do this all the time, but when you do, he'll appreciate it. Bonus points if this leads to sex (also see Tip #4).

6. If your man is into sports and you're not, learn a few of the basics of his favourite one and get him talking about it. Watch the occasional game with him. If it's one you can participate in with him, do so. It's a way for the two of you to bond on his terms.

7. Give him what I call a Thai massage. Dress in something skimpy and tight, and give him a "full body" rub down. But be prepared, this DOES lead to sex! Bonus points for wearing high heels and doing a little bit of role playing.

8. If he takes lunch from home with him to work, prepare it for him. Maybe even spice it up with something that he doesn't normally take, but likes to eat. (also, don't forget Tip #10)

9. If you make plans to have lunch or dinner together, surprise him with a side trip to the local motel for some intense lovin'. Better yet, treat him to a night of debauchery at a swanky hotel. This might include morning room service to regain your strength. You won't be able to wipe that smile off your face when you see him in a blissful daze and with a wobble in his walk.

10. Leave him little love notes. By e-mail or little paper ones. Just to show him you're thinking about him.

And now some ideas for the men!

For Men:

1. Getting your woman flowers is not just for special occasions or when you're in the doghouse. Buy her some just because. She'll appreciate them more when she doesn't expect them.

2. Don't be afraid to show affection in public (kissing, holding hands). So what if people are watching. You'll be making them jealous and your woman will appreciate that you're willing to show the world that you love them.

3. If your partner is talking about something, anything, try to concentrate on the conversation and not about how you're going to 'do' her. There's a time and place for that. Sometimes she just wants you to listen to her. How about it? Besides, you'll get bonus points for listening to her in the middle of a crucial football game.

4. If you can't afford, or don't have the energy to go out dancing, or to a nice restaurant, go for a walk, stop in at the local ice cream shop and buy her a cone of her favourite ice cream. You don't have to spend a lot of money. She just wants you to be with, and pay attention to, her.

5. When you go out for that walk, talk to her about the things she's interested in. Listen to what she has to say. Ask questions. Get involved in her interests. Actually, this tip can be applied any time, but doing it when there are no other distractions will allow you to focus.

6. Prepare her favourite dinner and serve it to her. You don't have to be a great cook. She'll appreciate the effort, as well as the pampering. Zero points for cheating and buying it already prepared. Make it from scratch, lazy bones! (also see Tip #8)

7. Massage her. It doesn't have to lead to sex. Sometimes she just wants her back or feet rubbed and have a few relaxing moments afterward. After your finished, if she's feeling relaxed and wants some quiet, let her have it and go into another room. But if you're going to watch TV or listen to music, keep it down.

8. Greet her at the door in an outfit she likes to see you wear. It doesn't have to be your best suit. Sometimes, a tight pair of jeans will do it. By the way, they may not admit it, but they DO like to look at guys' butts.

9. Buy her little things that mean something to her. Whether it's her favourite chocolate bar, a cute key chain, or the book she's been meaning to read. Giving her those unexpected little things endear you more and more to her because it shows you're always thinking of her.

10. Give her little love notes. With the advent of e-mails, it takes just a minute to whip something up and press 'send'. You don't have to be Cyrano de Bergerac. Just a few words expressing how you feel, even if it's just "kiss kiss". Of course, the adventurous might try their hand at writing a short poem and leaving it in a place where she'll find it when she's at work. She'll melt right in the office...guaranteed!

It doesn't end there. These were just a few suggestions to get you started. Be creative. Get to know your partner better, so that you can romance them all the better. Maybe if every couple made the effort throughout the year, there would be less marital strife and fewer divorces. Hey, we may even put Dr. Phil out of business. Wouldn't that be great!

If this has helped you, I'm glad to have made a difference in you and your partner's lives. If not, I hope that you will find your way because knowing the pure love of someone is better than any material possession you could hope to have.