Roses are red,
violets are blue,
Advantage has a new This Week in History for you!
Let’s get things started with a brief history of Valentine’s Day, with the assistance of The Andrews County News. Valentine’s Day as we know it today has evolved from a few different sources, including Roman culture and pagan festivals. Some historians believe that the holiday originated as a festival honoring the martyr Saint Valentine. The Saint is believed to have sent the very first ‘valentine’ while imprisoned, a letter to the woman he loved, which he signed ‘From Your Valentine’.
Others believe that Valentine’s Day was created to be a Christianized version of the Pagan festival Lupercalia, a fertility festival which also took place in the middle of February. While we are unsure of the exact origin, Valentine’s Day has been shaped by these predecessors into what we celebrate today. It is a day dedicated to expressing your gratitude to loved ones, often featuring motifs like hearts and birds. The bird motif can actually be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the French and English believed that the bird’s mating season began on February 14th, thus furthering the day’s emphasis on fertility and love. Each year on February 14th, people around the world celebrate love by giving gifts and sending cards.
Now that we know a little bit more about why people celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s time to get some ideas for this year’s celebrations! One way people show their love is by making treats to hand out, and this page from The Press, published in 1988, has some easy ideas. Included are recipes for baked goods, like a heart-shaped Betty Crocker cake or cookie sandwiches, as well as some ways to decorate them. For example, they suggest cutting a heart-shaped hole in a piece of wax paper to use as a stencil for sprinkles, or using some valentines day candies as garnishes. And don’t worry if you aren’t good at baking, because you can always write on lollipops or make some easy-peasy fruit skewers that will be just as delicious!
(1945 – 1980s) Shopping for Significant Others: Valentine’s Gift Ideas, 1972/77
With the menu settled, it’s time to move on to gifts. It can be hard to know what to get your loved ones for valentines day. If you’re like me, you probably used all your good gift ideas for Christmas, and are now left wondering what you can get that is easy to obtain but something they will actually appreciate. Thankfully, I found two advertisements in The Progress, published in Anahuac, Texas, that list some gift ideas. First, a 1972 advertisement for Gibson’s Discount Center suggested buying perfumes, assorted chocolates, or even some new undergarments for your partner. If none of those strike your fancy, a 1977 advertisement for Winnie Pharmacy suggested British Sterling colognes or aftershave for men and Revlon perfume for women. If all else fails, a box of chocolates is never a bad idea!
Valentine’s Day is a tradition that spans generations, providing glimmers of joy even in the most difficult times. This article from The Brownsville Herald, published on February 14th, 1943, exhibits how Valentine’s traditions transcend moments of struggle. This article showcases some valentines cards that help improve the receiver’s mood. Take the cards sent to active duty soldiers fighting overseas during World War II. In the brutality of combat, messages from loved ones or even strangers gave soldiers motivation to keep going. This concept even applies to smaller troubles, like the stress of moving, where the small gesture of sending a card with well wishes can make the day better. This is a great reminder that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love, it’s about showing the people in your life that you appreciate them!
(1824 – 1914) Closing Remarks: Stylish Advice, 1905/6
To close out this week in history, I found a couple of reminders from Hartford City, Indiana, that you may find helpful as you make your Valentine’s Day plans. In the Blackford County Gazette, published February 11th, 1905, they suggest that if you want to be a stylish young woman (in accordance with 1905 fashion), make sure that you wear a red rose. Also, your Valentine’s cards must be equally as fashionable, as the Daily Times Gazette (published 1906) reminds us that an ugly Valentine is as bad as an anonymous letter. In fact, if your ugly valentine doesn’t offend the receiver, it may be because they burned it without opening. Take some creative liberties with your Valentine’s cards to prevent them from becoming a pile of ashes this year!
Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales.
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