Time for a few of our favorite things –  Valentine’s Day Gift Guide!*

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: Put a Heart On It 💘

Valentine’s Day is a day of love, appreciation, and connection. So we’ve rounded up a few sweet tokens to help convey the love to your sweet with our Valentine Gift Guide! Today, we celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate, florals, and heartfelt messages, but its origins are layered. The history of Valentine’s Day is steeped in tradition and traces back centuries to ancient Roman rituals, early Christian martyrdom, and medieval romantic gestures.

The Origins of Valentine’s Day

Firstly, the holiday is named after St. Valentine, though the exact identity of the saint is debated. He was either a priest in 3rd-century Rome who secretly married young couples against the emperor’s decree, or a bishop who aided Christians during Roman persecution. In either case, Valentine became a symbol of love and sacrifice, leading to his eventual sainthood.

By the 5th century, the pope established St. Valentine’s Day to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility and purification. Ultimately, the holiday retained elements of romance and courtship, paving the way for its evolution into the Valentine’s Day we know today.

Medieval Romantics and Parchment Hearts

The association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love gained further momentum in the Middle Ages. Chaucer linked the day with birds choosing their mates, solidifying February 14th as a time for romance.

By the 15th century, lovers began exchanging written notes, often crafted by hand on parchment. Early valentines featured heart-shaped designs and poetic verses, becoming the first symbols of love. The heart— representing emotion and affection — became synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and its popularity spread.

The tradition of handmade cards flourished through the 18th and 19th centuries, evolving into the ornate valentines of the Victorian era. Those creations are the precursors to the cards we exchange with our loved ones now.

The Modern Celebration: Fun, Whimsy, and Love for All

Today, Valentine’s Day embraces all forms of affection— friendship, family bonds, and even self-love. With February 14 approaching, we’ve curated a collection of sweet gifts, whether they be for those you adore, or for yourself! There’s plenty of whimsy and sweet sentiment in our favorite things –  Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

And after all, the essence of the day lies not in grand gestures but in the sincerity of the heart.

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