Valentine’s Day is associated with romance, and it is one of the most popular days for gift-giving to loved ones.  Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in the United States since the 1700s, but its origins date back to Ancient Rome.  The timing of the day coincides with a pagan festival celebrating fertility as well as the time when people believed that birds started their Spring mating season.  St. Valentine himself is a mysterious figure, with several origin stories, all with a romantic theme.  The date itself was selected by Pope Gelasius in the 5th Century, two hundred years after the death of the saint, and it has always been associated with love and romance.

Choosing an Intentional Valentine’s Day Gift

In modern times, a Valentine’s gift to your loved one celebrates the romance of your relationship.  Given this opportunity, many go with the “traditional gift” of chocolates or flowers.  These are certainly promoted heavily as the go-to gift for the day.  While easy they are by no means your only option.  Why not give a more intentional gift — one that reflects thought and care for your loved one?

Having trouble coming up with a unique gift?  Here are some tips for shopping for your Valentine.

Notice the Colors Your Valentine Loves

Buy a gift that shows you noticed the finer details.  What colors does your Valentine wear?  Does your Valentine wear accessories like scarves or hats in this color?  Clothing or accessories in a favorite color will always be a winner.

Look Beyond the Obvious When Choosing Jewelry

Does she wear jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, earrings or rings?  Does he wear any jewelry?  Does she prefer silver or gold?  And does this jewelry come out for special occasions or the daily wear?  Notice the style of the jewelry — does she wear statement pieces or dainty/minimalist jewelry?  Jewelry comes in many styles and varieties, noticing these distinctions about your Valentine’s preferences can help pick a winning gift.

Alpaca Silver and Rose Quartz Necklace From Brazil

Listen for Clues About Preferences

Your Valentine may not give you specific clues about what she or he wants for the special day, but you can pick up clues about likes and dislikes.  Pay attention to comments about clothing, accessories, jewelry, music, books to see if you can get a sense of what will go over well when it comes to selecting a gift. 

Choose Gifts Based on What Brings Joy

If your Valentine has activities that bring joy, a gift that relates to the activity will be welcome.  Has she travelled recently?  Does he have a hobby like cooking or gardening?  Is your Valentine a collector?  Try selecting a gift that shows you pay attention and want to contribute to something that makes the recipient happy.

Reverse Painted Glass Jewelry Box From Peru

Why Intentional Gifts Make Valentine’s Day Memorable

All of these suggestions have one thing in common:  paying attention.  Try getting your Valentine an intentional gift — one that shows you took the time to carefully consider your loved one’s interests and preferences.  This will always have a greater impact than a generic present.  For this Valentine’s Day, consider making this effort and see how your Valentine reacts to your gift.

Now that you’ve got some clues on what to get, do you need some help with finding that perfect, unique gift for your Valentine?  Contact VirtuArte today and we can assist you select from an array of beautiful options.

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1. Valentine’s Day in Denmark

Valentine’s Day in Denmark is a celebration of love between friends and sweethearts. Instead of fresh roses, the Danes exchange pressed snowdrops – white flowers that come into season at the end of winter.  There is the gift of “lover’s cards,” which are transparent cards with a picture of the giver presenting a special something to their love.  The term “lover’s cards” has come to be used to refer to all cards exchanged on Valentine’s Day. Young people also exchange love poems, with a twist.  The “gaekkebrev” is given anonymously by an admirer, and the recipient who correctly guesses the author will be gifted with an Easter egg that year.

2. Valentine’s Day in Japan

More like a Valentine’s season, Valentine’s Day kicks off a month-long period dedicated to love.  On the 14th of February, traditionally, women give a special chocolate, “hon-mei,” to the man they love.  Women also give “giri-choco” chocolates to friends, family, colleagues and bosses, but these are considered respectful signs of affection rather than romance. But the celebration does not stop there.  A month later, on March 14th, known as White Day, men return the favor by gifting chocolate as well as flowers and other gifts to the woman who gave them hon-mei.  These chocolates are white to go along with the day.

3. Valentine’s Day in South Korea

Much like Japan, South Korea has more of a Valentine’s “season”.  In addition to Valentine’s Day and White Day, in South Korea, April 14th is known as Black Day – a day for singles to “mourn” the lack of love in their lives by wearing all black.  They also eat noodles with a black sauce, jjajangmyeon, which is also a national dish associated with comfort.

4. Valentine’s Day in the Philippines

In the Philippines, romance is in the air on Valentine’s Day.  The worldwide traditions of exchanging cards, gifts, flowers and chocolate are carried on with gusto.  However, Filipinos take the significance of the day one step further.  Many people in the country participate in mass weddings, where as many as hundreds of couples gather together to exchange vows, for the first time or renewing their loving commitment.  It is even considered a public service, with some events sponsored by the government.

5. Valentine’s Day in South Africa

Did you ever wonder where the term “wear your heart on your sleeve” comes from?  In ancient Rome, on the 15th of February, women would pin the name of their love on their sleeve as part of the larger festival of Lupercalia that some believe was the precursor to Valentine’s Day.  Today, in South Africa, women – and some men – continue the tradition by writing the name of the one they love and pinning it to their sleeve on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day as an Opportunity for Thoughtful Appreciation

Back in the United States, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to make a romantic gesture for that special someone, let your friends and family know you care or consider making a gift as part of a customer appreciation program.  Regardless of the recipient, to have the greatest impact, make the gift unique, memorable and related to the interests and likes of the person.

If you are interested in exploring unique, creative gift ideas, visit VirtuArte or give us a call at (866) 228-3497.  All purchases must be made by 11 February 2020 to guarantee arrival by Valentine’s.

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My next favorite holiday is two weeks away.  Did you know Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular holidays in America?  Did you know 190 million Valentine’s cards are sent each year, more than any other holiday except for Christmas?  I’ve loved Valentine’s Day since I was in grade school.  I remember the night before Valentine’s Day signing all those Valentine’s to give to my classmates. Learning about the history of Valentine’s Day makes this holiday even more meaningful.

Valentine’s Day and the Legend of St. Valentine

It isn’t exactly known how the 14th of February became Valentine’s Day; however, there are a couple of legends that have been linked to this modern-day holiday.  One of these legends has the holiday originating from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that was observed on the 15th of February.  The rise of Christianity in Europe caused many pagan holidays to be renamed for and dedicated to early Christian martyrs.  In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day, observed on the 14th of February, and proclaimed this feast day in honor of St. Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the third century.

Along with this St. Valentine, the Catholic Church recognizes two more saints named Valentine who were also martyred.  One St. 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 children, he outlawed marriage for young men.  Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages in secret.  When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other legends contend Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons.  According to one of these legends, an imprisoned Valentine sent the first “valentine” greeting to himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement.  Before his death, it is alleged he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” a salutation that is still used today.  Some believe Valentine’s Day is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial.

The History of Valentine’s Day Linked To Love

The day first became associated with romantic love in the 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer linked St. Valentine’s Day to romance.  In medieval France and England, it was believed that birds mated on the 14th of February.  Chaucer used the image of birds as a symbol of lovers in poems dedicated to the day.  By the 18th century, gift giving and exchanging handmade cards on Valentine’s Day had become common in England.  This tradition eventually made its way to the United States.  Esther A. Howland created the first American Valentine’s Day greeting cards.  It was not until her cards were commercially produced in the 1840s that the Valentine’s Day tradition really caught on.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Today, more than 62% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day.  The most popular gifts are candy and flowers; however, nearly 20% will give jewelry.  For those of you thinking about giving jewelry this Valentine’s Day, here are a couple of gift ideas:

This Alpaca Silver and Rose Quartz necklace was designed and handcrafted by Brazilian artist Nilson de Assis.  Rose quartz has been used in love rituals and ceremonies for centuries, and remains the stone of the hopeless romantic.  The perfect piece for Valentine’s Day.

This Alpaca Silver and Amethyst bracelet was also designed by Nilson de Assis.  Amethyst is the birthstone for February.

For other Valentine’s Day gift ideas visit the Unique Jewelry on the VirtuArte website.

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