Valentines Day Gift: Romantic Valentines Day Gifts

The History of Valentine's Day

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Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Saint Valentine as a priest at the temple during the reign, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be jailed and put to death. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.
Some states that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity also attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. Who was then killed and died on February 14, 269 A.D., this day had been devoted to love giving.
Some says that actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter who visited him during his confinement, whom he fell in love with. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From Your Valentine" an expression that is still in use today.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial.
Others claim that the Christian church may celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping and sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. The festival begin with members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. All the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn, city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February "Valentine's Day" should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (the first was Christmas).Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Romantic Valentines Day Gifts

Romantic Valentines Day Gifts

Romantic Valentine’s Day Gifts

Some may argue that Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year. So what better way to celebrate this truly magical day than by giving someone you love a gift that is incredibly romantic?
This may sound like a simple concept but many people involved in a romantic relationship often have a great deal of trouble selecting a romantic gift for their partner on Valentine’s Day. If you want to surprise your loved one with a really romantic gift this Valentine’s Day but simply just do not know how to do this we will provide some useful information in this article.

One thing to remember when searching for a romantic gift is that a truly romantic gift does not have to be complicated.
A simple candlelight dinner can be one of the most romantic gifts you can give someone on Valentine’s Day. You can either plan on making dinner yourself or ordering dinner in from a favorite restaurant. This is because what you are eating is not nearly as important as the mood you set. Whether you have pizza or filet mignon your dinner can be romantic if you set the table with elegant place settings, light a few candles and play some soft music in the background. All of these small touches will help to the evening truly romantic and you and your partner are bound to have a great Valentine’s Day.

An over the top gift such as a hot air balloon ride can be a very romantic Valentine’s Day gift. This type of gift is not only very original but it is also very romantic. You and your partner will not likely be alone in the hot air balloon because you will need a staff member present to help guide the balloon and help ensure a smooth flight but once you are up in the air you and your partner will be in awe of the breathtaking sights. A hot air balloon ride is something most people will never do in their lifetime but setting up a ride for you and your partner on Valentine’s Day will be a very memorable and romantic gift.
Another great idea especially if you intend to propose this Valentine's Day is to start finding out what type of ring your partner likes, it sounds more difficult than it is, just simply go window shopping together and discuss about the designs of rings you see in the windows or simply sit infront of the computer together and do some online browsing of different designs of rings and ofcause other items as you want to keep it a surprise!

Another great idea for a romantic gift on Valentine’s Day is a gift certificate for massage lessons. You and your partner can make an appointment to take a lesson or two on how to give massages. You will likely learn a few great techniques. Most people think of giving a gift certificate for a massage for Valentine’s Day but don’t consider giving a gift certificate for massage lessons. However, the lessons can be a far more romantic gift because you can attend the lessons together and practice on each other when you get home. Or a very good alternative would be to get a book on massage lessons and make sure you learn it and give the book to your partner at the same time giving him or her a massage that you have already learned by reading it first. Here's some suggestions: Massage Therapy Cards: Learn How to Give a Full Body Treatment (Cards)

Learn Massage In A Weekend
New Sensual Massage, The Learn to Give Pleasure with Your Hands
How To Learn the Best Massage Techniques (Paperback)

Simple Massage: 50 Easy-to-learn Home Spa Techniques (Cards)

One final romantic gift idea for a great Valentine’s Day gift is a picnic in the park. This is such a simple idea but it can also be very romantic. You can plan on packing a full meal to enjoy on your picnic or you can plan on brining along some wine and cheese instead. However, you should try to select a really beautiful location which is also likely to be fairly desolate at the time of your picnic. This will allow you and your date to focus on each other and not have to worry about being distracted. Restaurants can be extremely crowded on Valentine’s Day and really having a romantic moment with your partner in this situation can be difficulty. However, a quite picnic provides a great opportunity for you and your partner to really connect and enjoy each others company.
Thats Amore! Romantic Dinner For Two - Italian Gourmet Food Gift Basket