Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated every year on February 14th. This website will discuss the origins of this holiday and discuss popular examples of gifts.

Valentine's Day - Info
Historians of folklore are not precisely sure where Valentine’s Day came from, but there are several different ideas that suggest the beginnings of the holiday. One of the ideas as to how Valentine’s Day started is linked to an ancient Roman celebration called Lupercalia. The celebration of Lupercalia was held on February 15th, and it honored the Roman gods of Lupercus and Faunus.

Another idea or explanation of how Valentine’s Day originated dates back to early saints that carried the name Valentine. There were two saints with the name Valentine and one priest named Valentine. One of these saints was put to death on February 14th, and over two hundred years later Pope Gelasius named February 14th Valentine’s Day. There was also a priest named Valentine who did not obey the Emperor’s rules and married couples in secret.

In addition to the above links to the origin of Valentine’s Day, another idea that has been discussed is the fact that birds and fowl choose their mates on the date of February 14th. Also, I think Valentine’s Day is associated with spring coming and love blooming in the spring.

Realistically, the origin of Valentine’s Day could have sprung from any of these historical markers. Most likely, though, it is an intermingling of all these traditions and folklores. In the modern day history of the holiday, Valentine’s Day began in the countries of England and France. The first box of Valentine’s Day candy was said to have been given in the late 1800’s. The first greeting card known to man is a Valentine’s Day card, created in the 1400’s, and on display at the British Museum in London.

Valentine’s Day Gifts
Regardless of how much money you have, there are lots of ways to show the one you love your affection on February 14th. To do this, you can spend a little money or a lot. It all depends on the restraints of your budget. For the thrifty spender, there are many thoughtful and romantic gifts that cost very little. Depending on the tastes of your mate, you can purchase chocolates, flowers, candles, bath beads, lotion, a leather-bound journal, or go out to your favorite restaurant.

For the gift buyer that can spend $50 or more on an item, the sky is the limit on gift choices. If your lover likes jewelry, think of her tastes and whether she likes gold or silver. Look for sales on necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or rings. If she loves perfume, get her the latest scent. Or if she loves to pamper herself, get her a spa gift certificate, so she can relax and beautify. The key to buying a good gift is knowing what your mate likes and following your instincts.

With healthy lifestyles on the rise in our culture, buying a gift with health in mind is both creative and thoughtful. Hop online and check out what is available for health gift baskets or go to your local CVS or Brooks and make your own. Buy some herbs, vitamins, lotions, and other health-related items that your partner will love.

Free Valentine’s Day Gifts
If you sit down and think about it, there are tons of ideas for Valentine’s Day that are both free and romantic. Here are just a few to get you started. You could make your mate their favorite dinner, light candles, turn off all the lights, and have a super romantic dinner. Who knows what will happen with romance like that?

Another idea is to revisit the spot where the two of you met, pack a picnic, and take a romantic walk. Or you could take a day trip to one of your state parks and explore the area. Romance is all about spending time together, and it is not always necessary to spend lots of money doing that.

Besides that, you could use scented massage oil and give each other massages. Who knows what that leads to once the two of you are covered in oil. Or, if you don’t like massages, take a bubble bath together and languish in your wrinkles.

If you really love your partner, you could write down in words how you feel about them. In other words, you could give them a juicy love letter for Valentine’s Day. Or, if you are not gifted in the language of love, download an e-card online that expresses your undying love for your mate. Lastly, you could make a CD of love songs that you know your partner likes. All these ideas cost nothing and show thought and caring.

Of course, a good session of sex is always appreciated and needed with couples. If you are one of the many busy couples in today’s world, a little intimacy may be all you need in your relationship on Valentine’s Day.

Gifts for Guys on Valentine’s Day
Believe it or not, guys like to get gifts too on the day of the heart. They may not be as insistent about it, but gifts from the person you love are always appreciated. So what can you get your guy to show him you care? It all depends on what his interests are. If he likes to smell good, then get him his favorite cologne or the newest scent on the market. If he is into sports, buy him tickets to an upcoming game or get him new gear if he plays a certain sport. If there is another hobby he is into, such as fishing, buy him something related to that (such as a new fish). Besides this, you could buy him flowers and a card (men like flowers and mushy stuff too). Or, you could take your man out to his favorite restaurant and top it off with a movie night for two.

Another idea for men, especially if your budget is limited, is to dress up in one of his favorite outfits (or no outfit at all) and surprise him with his favorite sex act. Sadly enough, dirty sex acts are probably the most exciting and most appreciated gifts you could give a man on Valentine’s Day. It is true, women, your man’s mind is always in the gutter. Try out a new sex move you have read about in kama sutra books or something you may have seen in the latest porn movie. Believe me, your guy will definitely appreciate your new ideas. Beyond those words of advice, just be creative and know your mate. Follow this advice and you can’t go wrong.

Valentine’s Day For Singles
Speaking from experience, I know it can be difficult to have a good time on Valentine’s Day if you are single. But, it definitely is possible to break out and have a good time. You just need to be creative and it helps to call up all the singles you know to collaborate.

One idea for singles is to have a secret Santa event with your single friends where everyone gets one person to buy for and then everyone exchanges gifts. I find this to be a fun thing to do for any type of celebration. For the event, you and your friends can also make goodies for everyone and make the event a real party.

Besides this, you and your single friends could get dressed up and have a cocktail party. Invite guys and girls and there’s not telling what could happen. Or, you could have a nice dinner party where all your friends make their favorite foods.

Lastly, you and your single friends could dress up and make it a night on the town. When is this not a good time? I guarantee it will be more exciting than all the couples you know watching a movie and spending the night in.

If you were really feeling adventurous on Valentine’s Day, you could send a card to your secret crush or invite them to one of your single gatherings. There’s no better day than Valentine’s Day to let your feelings be known. Just be ready for things to go differently than planned though. You never do know when dealing with matters of the heart.

Love Letters for Valentine’s Day
More than anything, the most important element of a love letter is being honest about how you feel. You want your loved one to really know the depth of your love and what it means to you. But that does not mean you have to use big words and fancy language. Write how you are in real life--use simple phrases if that feels more comfortable for you. Mention places you have been together and things you have done. Describe what you love about your mate, how they look, and how they are. You want the reader to feel what you are feeling, so it is important to be yourself.

There are simple elements of a love letter that are extremely important, and they are neatness and quality of materials used. You want to make sure that you use good penmanship and do your best not to make spelling errors. These qualities will make the love letter look less careless. Other ways to jazz up the love letter are using good paper, pretty ribbons, or calligraphy to write the letter.

One thing you do want to keep in mind when writing a love letter is how long you have known the recipient of the letter. If you have been going with them for two weeks, you may want to stay away from words such as “soul mate” and “undying love.” This will most likely scare the person away. But of course, if you have been dating for years, words of intimacy are appropriate and needed in a love letter.

If you have a lot of trouble writing a love letter, buying a book of love poetry is always an option. It still shows thought and shows that you want to express how you feel about your mate.

Getting Engaged on Valentine’s Day
Did you know that Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days of the year to get engaged? That would be reason enough for me to stay away from this day, but many people appear to like the standard day of romance to pop the question. When you ask your mate to marry you, your most important consideration should be creativity. You want to attempt for the moment to be memorable and special.

There are oh so many ways you can propose, and I’ll name a few here just to get you started. You could have the ring placed in a glass while the two of you are dining out. This depends on how public you would like the proposal to be. This will definitely get the whole restaurant interested. Another idea is to put a movie in for the two of you and put a tape recording of you proposing. Or, you could have a family dinner and propose in front of your family. Or you could go to a sports game and have one of the television screens spell out your proposal.

Of course, every single one of these ideas has been done before, but it is tough to find an original way to ask your partner to marry you. One original idea would be to go to a concert and have the lead singer state the proposal. Or, if you have animals you could attach a paper proposal on their collar and wait until your mate discovers it.

Travel Ideas on Valentine’s Day
Traveling is a very romantic idea for Valentine’s Day, and one your mate will always appreciate. But, since money does not fall from the sky, traveling also depends on your budget. The good news is there are day trips that are fairly inexpensive--you just need to do our research and be creative.

If you do not own books on traveling in your geographical area, hop online. Type in what and where you are interested in and most likely you will be able to find useful information on the topic. Look for detailed and informative descriptions, and try to stay away from web sites that only appear to provide fluff or advertisements.

For the lovers with a bigger budget, check out the travel specials as early as possible. There will always be specials around this time of year for couples, so try to capitalize on them. Specific travel web sites that tend to have good deals are Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and STA Travel. Although both of you will be going on this trip, try to think about what your partner would enjoy most. Where has your mate always wanted to visit? Do they get sick of the cold weather? Take them somewhere warm to forget the dreary winter. Try not to think of places you want to visit, but places you both will enjoy.

Of course, you do not always have to go great distances to have a good time. You could book your favorite hotel half an hour away and have an amazing time with the one you love. As long as you go to a quality hotel where the service is good and the amenities are excellent, you will have a great time with your partner. It is all about being able to relax and unwind together, and sometimes all it takes is getting out of your regular routine and going somewhere totally different.

Food on Valentine’s Day
For some mysterious reason, food and love have always been associated with one another. So many times, food is a part of celebrating Valentine’s Day. When I think about specific foods for Valentine’s Day, I think of champagne and chocolate. Both of these items seem to be popular on the day of love. But, of course you do not need to limit yourself to certain foods on the day of the heart. But, celebrating with food can be a good way to observe the holiday of love.

If sweets and alcohol do not whet your palate, plan a romantic dinner for the two of you that you know both of you will love. Cooking for your partner is always a perfect way to show your love for your mate. Try to make it a little more special than your average meal. Cook something that you might like on a Monday night such as Filet Mignon or Shrimp Scampi--something yummy. Dress it up with garnishes and make dessert. Spend a little more money on dinner than you do on a regular night. Cooking a good meal really does show you care about someone.

If you are not gifted in the culinary arts, going to a good restaurant is always an option. Eating out is always better than burning down your house out of love. Try to go somewhere out of the ordinary--a spot the two of you have talked about, but have never tried. Or maybe go to that restaurant that is a little bit more expensive than usual, but just right to show your mate you love them. One night of splurging is not going to break the bank.


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