Warning: Explicit Content
Not really, but we are going to lay bare the truths of Valentine’s Day and all that surrounds it, including tips on what to buy.
Take note now: if your partner says not to bother with a gift, you better bother with a gift, because there is nothing quite as heart-breaking as seeing your loved one’s disappointed face when you return home empty handed on that special day.
For those singletons out there, this is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself, and let’s face it you won’t be disappointed with something you know you want. Even if it’s a night in front of the telly, sweats on, bra off (if you wear one), hair up and a nice tub of Ben & Jerry’s. Happiness personified!!
Valentine’s Day: A History of…
Dating pack to the pre-Christian era, Valentine’s Day was in fact a Pagan celebration of fertility known as Lupercalia marked on the 13th, 14th and 15th of February. Unlike the mundane commercialism of today, young men would strip naked and use goat or dog-skin whips to spank the bottoms of women. This perplexing act was seen to increase a woman’s fertility.
The day itself is thought to have later been named after one or more St. Valentines, but it is not clear which.
One, a Christian known as Valentine of Terni was made Bishop of Interamna (now Terni) in AD 197 but died not long after. According to legend, he died on the 14 of February, however the validity of this is unlikely. Little else is known of his life.
The second, also a Christian, Valentine of Rome, a priest or bishop of the city was arrested for helping prisoners. While in jail, he was said to have converted his captor by restoring the sight of his daughter. Later, the story is said to have included the Valentine of Rome falling in love with the daughter, sending her a note signed ‘From your Valentine’.
Another story surrounding Valentine claimed that Claudius, the ruling Emperor at that time, is said to have banned young men from marrying so they would make better soldiers. It is said Valentine was arrested for secretly carrying out weddings. He too is supposed to have died on 14 February.
Fast-forward to AD 1601, the past methods of celebration had somewhat remained in the past, and St Valentine’s day was now in the conscious of the common people. Shakespere even mentions Valentine’s Day in Ophelia’s lament in Hamlet:
“To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,/All in the morning betime,/And I a maid at your window,/To be your Valentine.”
In the mid-eighteenth century, the passing of love-notes made of lace and paper became popular. By 1913, Hallmark produced their first Valentine card, and now is the flagship ‘Hallmark Holliday’. Some cynics may say this was the beginning of the end to the genuine romance behind the celebration.
Each year, around a billion cards are sent to husbands, wives, admirers, the admired, partners, boyfriends and girlfriends.
So, now you know why we celebrate it, here’s some ideas on how to celebrate yourself and your love interest.
Alternative Gifts and Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Forget flowers: say ‘I love you’ with a cactus. It’ll last indefinitely: a far more fitting representation of your love.
Shop Prick London.
Stay in: And cook chicken. Engagement Chicken to be precise. According to Glamour Magazine, this chicken has changed the lives of 70 couples…and counting. Watch the video here.
Recipe: Engagement Chicken
Netflix and (Actually) Chill: Get the Domino’s on order, and get comfortable. These are our picks: Movie: The Theory of Everything, Series: Stranger Things, Documentary: Anything by Louis Theroux
Take a Tour: Cuddle up to your loved one on London’s ‘scariest’ Jack the Ripper Tour.
Go to a Gig: The Jazz Café are hosting ‘A night of Marvin Gaye’ tickets priced at £15 + bf.
If none of the above feels quite right for your loved one, maybe the best way to say ‘I love you’ is in the form of a handbag, or shoes, or quite frankly anything from Aspinal of London, Saint Laurent, or Sophie Hulme. The list could go on, but here are some our favourites (with an obligatory colour theme, of course!)
Aspinal of London Travel Wallet/Passport Cover
For a wider selection of Valentine’s gifts, browse the Luxe List.
