Edwardian & Victorian Valentine's Day Cards

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated annually on February 14. It is a day for people to express their love for each other by giving cards, flowers, and other gifts. The history of Valentine's Day is long and complex, and there are many different stories about how it began.

One popular story is that Valentine's Day was started by a priest named Valentine who lived in Rome in the third century. Valentine was a kind and compassionate man, and he often helped Christians who were being persecuted by the Roman government. One day, Valentine was arrested and put in prison. While he was in prison, he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was executed, Valentine wrote her a letter and signed it "From your Valentine." This is said to be the origin of the tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards.

Another popular story is that Valentine's Day was started by a pagan festival called Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival that was celebrated in February. During the festival, young men would run through the streets naked, whipping women with strips of goatskin. It was believed that this would make the women fertile.

The truth is that no one really knows for sure how Valentine's Day began. It is possible that it is a combination of both the Christian and pagan traditions. Whatever its origins, Valentine's Day has become a popular holiday for people of all faiths to celebrate love.

Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in many different ways around the world. In the United States, it is a major commercial holiday, with billions of dollars spent on cards, flowers, and other gifts. In other countries, Valentine's Day is celebrated in more subdued ways. For example, in Japan, people often give each other chocolate on Valentine's Day.

No matter how it is celebrated, Valentine's Day is a day for people to express their love for each other. It is a time to show your loved ones how much you care about them.