Valentine's Day is the holiday that is most closely linked with personalised valentine's day cards cards, aside from Christmas. But how did Valentine's Day celebrations end up being so card-centric with Valentine's Day cards? It turns out that the connection with personalised valentine's day card has roots that go back to ancient Rome, making it older than the printing press itself!

The Roman Holidays of Lupercalia and February

Valentine's Day has its roots in a Roman event, just like many of our contemporary celebrations with personalised gifts(but not the kind starring Audrey Hepburn). The origin of Valentine's Day can be traced back to the Roman cleaning ceremony of February, which is celebrated on February 15 (hence the name of the month). Lupercalia, a pagan festival intended to ensure fertility and abundance for the coming year, eventually developed in February.

More Historic Details

The Roman deity of agriculture and shepherds, Lupercus, was sacrificed together with dogs and goats during the celebration of Lupercalia. Young men were then sent sprinting through the streets carrying strips of the bloody sacrificed goat's hide. It was thought that striking a lady with one of the strips of hiding would ensure her fertility and a healthy pregnancy the next year. To ensure abundant crops for the upcoming season, the men would also strike fields and crops with the hide.

Additionally, Lupercalia commemorated the founding of Rome. Romulus and Remus, two young orphan boys who were fostered by a lone she-wolf, are central to the myth of the founding of Rome. In the hallowed cave where Roman priests believed Romulus and Remus were nurtured by the wolf, the Lupercalia festival would start every year. The Latin word lupus, which means "wolf," is likely where the name Lupercalia originates. More information about the complicated past of Valentine's Day can be found here.

Valentine's Day cards: St. Valentine is who?

Most people are aware that St. Valentine is the inspiration behind Valentine's Day, but did you know that there were two St. Valentines and that there is controversy over which one the festival is named after? From Roman times to the nineteenth century, at least three or maybe twelve Catholic martyrs bear the name "St. Valentine”.

One of these Saint Valentines may have sent what is sometimes referred to as the first "valentine." St. Valentine of Terni was imprisoned for evangelizing and disobeying Emperor Claudius' prohibition on officiating weddings, and he was sentenced to death probably around 278 AD. According to legend, he sent Julia, the daughter of his jailer Asterius, who had become his friend, a farewell letter before being put to death. The letter was purportedly signed "from your Valentine" - the first "valentine" (in other versions of the story, St. Valentine is said to have cured Julia's blindness).

Birds, Valentine's Day, and Valentine's Day cards

Pope Gelasius first established February 14 as the first Feast Day of St. Valentine in the year 496 AD. This feast day's origins were merely a religious celebration of a martyr. The day and St. Valentine didn't start to be linked to the idea of romantic love until many centuries later. The idea of Valentine's Day as a day for romantic love isn't first mentioned until almost a thousand years later, in the 14th century. It appeared in "Parlement of Foules," a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer that is dated to 1382:For this occurred on Saint Valentine's Day when every sin is committed there. That approximately translates to "this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird comes there to choose his partner" in contemporary language.

In the Middle Ages, it was popularly believed that birds made their mating decisions in the middle of February. The first known instance of romantic love being openly celebrated on February 14th is an event from the French royal court of Charles VI, which is attributed to him on Valentine's Day in 1400. A document called the purports to establish a court to adjudicate disputes of love, but there is no other record of the court's existence. Chaucer made an indirect and subtle reference to Valentine's Day is a romantic day.

Valentine's Day cards

On Valentine's Day, express your feelings to everyone you care about in all the ways you think they deserve it. Valentine's Day, which is observed on February 14, is the ideal occasion to acknowledge the special features of each of your relationships with a Valentine's Day card. You can find a Valentine card for everyone on your list thanks to Hallmark's enormous selection gifts bags, which includes romantic valentines and valentine's cards with price gifts for that special someone as well as cute and sweet Valentine's Day cards for children.

Valentine's Day cards For Children And More

Your children can find their classroom valentine's card to give to other students at their school's Valentine's Day party in addition to cards for kids depicting Disney, Star Wars, and other beloved characters. Make sure to look at our kids' Val party ideas if you're the fortunate room mom for some more valentine's day cards and activities. There are lots of options for humorous Valentine's Day cards if you and your spouse enjoy making each other laugh and get perfect match.

You can discover a card that perfectly captures your relationship, whether your love is young and new or enduring and familiar. Give your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, best friends, and other significant individuals in your life a gift with romantic designs from the wish list from among the many options available to show how much you care. Browse the pop-up Val cards or take a closer look at the exquisite handiwork of our Signature collection if you want your card to stand out.

Do You Want More Exclusive Valentine's Day cards?

With Valentine's video greeting card, you can capture your love on tape for a genuine one-of-a-kind surprise that the receiver can download and cherish forever. There are many lovely Spanish-language cards available if you (or your spouse) speak the language. When you've discovered the card that speaks to your soul, read our article on what to write in a Valentine's Day card if you still need a little motivation. Match your card with the ideal Valentine's Day present. There is something for every one of your loved ones at Hallmark, where you may purchase conventional gifts like candy and chocolates, picture frames, cuddly animals, and baseballs with hearts stitched onto them.