In 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as a day to honor St. Valentine. And early on, the holiday became a day to exchange love messages. Recorded evidence of Valentine cards can be found in the diary of Samuel Pepys in 1667. In the 18th century handmade Valentine’s card were exchanged. Some quite elaborate, including delicate hand-cut paper lace, or complex pin-pricked designs. The late 18th century saw the beginnings of manufactured Valentines: black and white lithographs with hand-colored decoration and printed verses. The earliest manufacture of embossed Valentines was by a firm in London in 1803.

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? With the traditional flowers, chocolate and/or dinner...or do you do something different? My best Valentine's gift came 27 years ago--my daughter. Happy Birthday Hon!

Want to read more about the history of Valetines? Here are a couple of links:

Valentine's Day Virtual Museum

Valentine's Day

Who is the most famous figure of Valentine’s Day? Valentine, the priest in Rome, who was cruelly executed on February 14, 270, during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Claudius II--or Cupid, the cute, loveable, winged mischievous trickster? The God of love…

Although the day is named for the martyred saint, I decided Cupid is probably a better known figure. So who is this angelic love pest? His arrows are filled with desire and flow with love, but pierce with pain. As I mentioned he is winged, which speaks to the spiritual side of love, yet there is the danger of falling…so if you have ever celebrated the joy or suffered from the sorrow of a romantic relationship, you too have been touched by Cupid arrows.

Which figure do you think represents Valentine's Day best? Cupid or Saint Valentine?