Valentines Day Facts and Suggestions UK

[Mike]

As I'm sure you know Valentines Day on Feb 14th is fast aproaching!

My advice is:

• DO NOT leave it to the last minute to buy a gift, a bunch of flowers from the local garage doesnt give the desired effect.
• Buy something nice, but keep it simple.
• Flowers, chocolates or perfume are always a nice gift.
• How about a fine meal in a nice restaurant. I advise you book early.
• This one is the most important one Guys, trust me on this one: If you are going to buy lingerie make sure its the romantic type and not something that resembles two elastic bands! What ever you do make sure its the right size. Otherwise your cunning plan may result in you sleeping on the couch.

Valentine's Day UK Traditions and Tales

There are many traditions and tales associated with romance activities on Valentine's day including:

St. Valentines Day is celebrated on the 14th of February and is associated with the exchange of love notes (valentines), between loved ones, and more recently small gifts such as flowers or chocolates. Basically a day of romance.

Different authorities believe Valentine's Day began in various ways. Some trace it to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia. Other experts connect the event with one or more saints of the early Christian church. Still others link it with an old English belief that birds choose their mates on February 14. Valentine's Day probably came from a combination of all three of those sources, plus the belief that spring is a time for lovers.

The first man an unmarried woman saw on 14th February would be her future husband.

If the names of all a girl's suitors were written on paper and wrapped in clay and the clay put into water, the piece that rose to the surface first would contain the name of her husband-to-be.

If a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a rich person.

Valentines or love notes are traditionally given to loved ones on Valentines day. One of the earliest known valentines is a love poem written in 1415 by the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was held in the Tower of London after he was captured at the Battle of Agincourt. This is probably where the St. Valentines legend arose.

Since the seventeenth century in the UK, St. Valentines day has been celebrated in it's more current romantic form. The exchange of small gifts and love notes was widespread. By the end of the eighteenth century printed valentines cards were being produced. It wasn't until 1840 in America that valentines cards were first mass produced by Esther Howland.

Valentine's Day Money Facts in the UK

Valentines days is worth approximately £2.4 billion to the retail sector

• Around £151 million is spent on flowers
• Around £26 million is spent on cards, with around 13 million cards sent
• Around £384 million is spent on chocolate
• Around £18 million is spent on lingerie
• 42% of the population will spend money on their Valentines 10% of the population receive flowers 7% will receive chocolates 15% will receive a card 2% will receive lingerie
• 49% of men compared to 51% of women will spend money on their Valentines
• 45 % of gifts bought by men are either not used, returned and changed for a different size or exchanged for something different
• On average, each person spends: £24 on flowers and £15 on chocolates

Other Valentine's Day Tales and Legends

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 -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, 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 put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. 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.

Another story says Valentine was an early Christian who made friends with many children. The Romans imprisoned him because he refused to worship their gods. The children missed Valentine and tossed loving notes between the bars of his cell window. This tale may explain why people exchange messages on Valentine's Day.

According to still another story, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter.

Another history of martyrs mentions a Saint Valentine who was bishop of Interamna and who may have been martyred in Rome. By being remembered both in Rome and in Interamna, he may have come to be considered as two people, but this is not entirely certain.

Many stories say that Valentine was executed on February 14 about A.D. 269.
A basilica was built in Saint Valentine’s honour in Rome in A.D. 350, and a catacomb containing his remains was found on this location.

The origin of St. Valentines day is not clear. But it is known that it wasn't just a day invented by the greeting cards industry. (I know I didn't believe it either!) Valentines day as we know it first originated probably as early as the middle ages, perhaps even earlier with roots in roman times.

Saint Valentine - who was he? Most probably a legend, there are in fact 3 saints who go by the name Valentine or Valentinius and are associated with the 14th of Feb, one was a priest, another a bishop but all 3 were said to be martyred. One of the most popular legends states that just before his beheading for refusing to deny Christ, Valentine wrote a letter to his beloved which was signed "From Your Valentine"

Since AD 496 the feast of St Valentines has been celebrated, some believe to suppress an older pagan fertility festival held on the 15th of February. But the feast was more of a Christian celebration rather than the romantic day we now it as now. The association with romance dates from the middle ages, where most of the legends surrounding St. Valentine were written.

The association of romance with St Valentines day dates from around the 14th century. One of the earliest written accounts of the romantic nature of Valentines day is by Geoffrey Chaucer where he notes the pairing of mating birds on St Valentines day.

[InLove]

I don't celebrate valentines day. The way I see it you shouldn't use valentines day as a time to show how much you love eachother you should be doing that all year round.

I do find the stories interesting though.

[Nutty_ZA]

It's Mrs Nutty's 30th Birthday on Valentines Day (Yes, you read that correctly)... and she's expecting something reallllllllllllly special
(even tho she will be 6 months pregnant then)

I need to book something pretty soon (gonna have to get hold of her best friend for help methinks)

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Nutty_ZA

It's Mrs Nutty's 30th Birthday on Valentines Day (Yes, you read that correctly)... and she's expecting something reallllllllllllly special
(even tho she will be 6 months pregnant then)

I need to book something pretty soon (gonna have to get hold of her best friend for help methinks)

Wow 30 and Valentines day

Congratulations on the 6 month old bump

[Nutty_ZA]

Originally Posted by Mike

Wow 30 and Valentines day

Yeah, you'd think that I'd get away with 1 present... NOT

Originally Posted by Mike

Congratulations on the 6 month old bump

Thanks, our second little boy(90% sure)

[billie114]

Congrats to you and Mrs Nutty.

1 pressie, not fair. At least 2. 1 for Valentines and 1 for her birthday and then of course 1 just because...

[madcat]

I agree, you'd best get at LEAST 2 pressies or you'll be in trouble!!

Congrats on the bump.

On Mar 3rd it's my birthday and on Mar 4th it's our wedding anniversary and I expect 2 pressies off mike, so I don't think Mrs Nutty is wrong in expecting something special for birthday and valentines on the same day

MadCat

[Mike]

Originally Posted by madcat

I agree, you'd best get at LEAST 2 pressies or you'll be in trouble!!

Congrats on the bump.

On Mar 3rd it's my birthday and on Mar 4th it's our wedding anniversary and I expect 2 pressies off mike, so I don't think Mrs Nutty is wrong in expecting something special for birthday and valentines on the same day

MadCat

Thats me told isnt it

[InLove]

Originally Posted by Mike

Thats me told isnt it

Looks like it

I don't mid getting my birthday and christmas presents as one (in case you don't know my b-day is boxing day) as long as it's one expensive gift the kind of gift you wouldn't get for one celebration.

However Mrs Nutty is with child. Congrats. So i think she'll want two pressents. Just because.

[Mike]

I think that they have done quite enough valentining