Valentines Day, which falls on February 14 is celebrated by folks
across the world today. People celebrate it by sending greetings of love
and friendship as well as giving flowers and candy as a token of affection
of the recipients. Even school children take part by exchanging cards and
giving gifts with heart and cupid motifs to express appreciation and
esteem of their parents, relatives, and teachers. Everyone with romance
in their heart yearns for this day. No doubt, Valentine's Day is the most
romantic day of the year.
If you're married, Valentines Day is the time to show your spouse how much
you love and appreciate them. If you're still single and looking, this is
your chance to make a good impression of how romantic and caring you
really are to your sweetheart.
However, Valentines Day is not limited
to your significant other. You can pick anyone special in your life to be your
Valentine.
History of Valentine's Day
The tradition actually started in Rome in the third century. Emperor
Claudius II was in power at the time and at one point he outlawed marriage
for young men so that they would serve in his army willingly, not worried
about being separated from their wives and families.
However, this marriage ban didn't fare well with the young men. During
that time there was a Catholic priest named Valentine who was willing to
secretly perform marriage sacraments for the passionate lovers.
Unfortunately, Claudius found out about this and Valentine was jailed and
sentenced to death.
While in prison Valentine became friends with the daughter of one of the
guards who let her visit him. Legend has it, right before he was executed,
Valentine wrote a letter to this young lady signed "from your Valentine."
Valentine was eventually declared a saint, and in 496 AD Pope Gelasius I
proclaimed the day of his death (February 14, 270 AD) St. Valentine's Day,
a day to express sentiments of love and romance, celebrating the power of
the spirit over the material world, which became a very popular
celebration in Europe by the middle ages. In 1415 while imprisoned in the
Tower of London, Charles the Duke of Orleans sent his wife a card on St.
Valentines Day, a practice that continues to this day.
There were other interesting practices and customs pertaining to
Valentines Day that didn't survive through modern days such carving of
wooden spoons with heart and keys to unlock the recipient's heart, drawing
of names from bowls and pinning them to the sleeves, declaring love to the
chosen Valentine, and promising marriage after a woman accepts the gift of
clothing from the man she loved. Nevertheless, the love and romance
essence of Valentine's Day has stood the test of time. Valentines Day has
in fact, become more popular as more people from different countries adopt
the tradition.
So, what are your plans for the upcoming Valentines Day? Have you thought
of doing something different this year that will make both you and your
loved one feel extra special? Instead of giving the usual box of
chocolate candy, how about having a candlelight dinner at a
romantic restaurant? Or perhaps
you can plan on a vacation or weekend getaway to a romantic destination
such as San Francisco. Just let
your imagination guide you to make this Valentine's Day the most
unforgettable.When it comes to tangible gifts, jewelry remains unbeatable,
especially for women. Gold necklaces, rings, bracelets, diamonds, or other
precious stones will certainly make excellent Valentines Day gifts for
your wife or girlfriend. Even those dazzling accessories that compliment
their new attire will be greatly appreciated. Talking about jewelry and
romance, what could be more romantic than proposing on Valentine's Day?
That's certainly worth planning ahead of time.
Around Valentines Day, the shopping malls and jewelry stores tend to be
very crowded. So, you should do your shopping early or go online to look
for that special Valentine's Day gift. There are quite a number of places
you can visit online, and you can compare prices. eBay is one of the best
places that offer quality merchandise at low prices.
We wish you the most memorable Valentines Day!
~ Your friendly (and romantic)
Cool Info Lounge staff
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