The Story Of Valentine’s Day & The meaning Behind It

What is Valentine’s Day? Every February 14th this date is celebrated here in Canada, but with different dates in other countries. This date is celebrated in Brazil on June 12, in July for Argentinians, in Wales on January 25, and in Spain on October 9. The essence is the same, despite the dates being different. And now each country has developed its own way of celebrating and new traditions for the date.

Valentine’s gifts, roses, and balloons are sent by couples and they spend the day together to celebrate their love and affection. Regardless of you being single or not, have a big family or not, Valentine’s Day is for everyone. With heart-shaped balloons, banners and heart-string decorations, you can celebrate with family, friends, at work or at school.

The Origin of Valentine’s Day

The story started with a Catholic Priest in the 3rd century. At that time, many Romans were converting to Christianity, but Emperor Claudius II wasn’t happy, creating laws to forbid Christians to certain activities. He also felt that the country had to be dedicated to Roman soldiers, establishing a law again to keep them from marrying and raising families. Then St. Valentine started marrying these soldiers in secret ceremonies, beginning all the stories about him. He was eventually arrested and he healed one of the jailor’s blind daughters while incarcerated. Before going to execution, he wrote her a love letter, and his signature was “from your Valentine”. February 14, 270 was the date he died.

Moving forward to the 5th century, a festival called Lupercalia was happening in mid-February in Rome. This festival celebrated the spring season, along with women’s fertility rites and pairing couples by lottery. Later on, around the end of the century,  Pope Gelasius I changed the name to Valentine’s Day, associating the date with St. Valentines and love. It was the beginning of what we have today, and love letters and notes were being written. 

The meaning of Valentine’s Day

As previously mentioned, the meaning of this date is to celebrate love, expressing the feelings through letters, presents, and moments shared with family and friends, rather than just with partners. Traditions have been formed over the years, and other items have begun to be integrated and connected with the date. It is now normal for many couples and families to celebrate dinners, picnics, or even a homemade recipe for Valentines.

For almost a year, Covid has changed our way of life and Valentine’s Day 2021 will be different, but still good. And speaking of it…

Valentine’s Day Flavours

Now that you know the importance of Valentine’s Day, surprise your loved ones with these quick yet thoughtful ideas. Food is a worldwide way to say “I love you”, and in fact, many studies show that young couples that are happy with their marriage tend to gain more weight. 

We are all staying home, so how about some sweet combos to make the day fun? There is definitely something magical about knowing that someone has taken the time to cook something just for you, and even better if you cook together. Here are some options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to help you. 

Brunches are always the perfect way to start every day, so don’t forget the tableware if you have a fancy or easy one. A sweet note of pancakes, heart-shaped waffles, or some eggs benedict looks fancy but it’s very simple. You can find some recipes here. Add coffee and maple syrup and you are ready to celebrate.

The best part of lunch is dessert. You can have food delivered and concentrate your energies on making the perfect dessert. And if you think of cupcakes, we’ve got you filled with these cases of cupcakes. Peppermint biscuits or muffins and red velvet cake can also be options. There are some good options and recipes for you here.

For dinner, an easy and delicious recipe is Cheese Fondue. And in case you are lactose intolerant, there are always salads and steaks to choose from, pasta or even sushi. Pair this with a fine wine, some candles, and decorate your kitchen or living room with honeycomb balls. 

Another choice is to have cocktails and beverages in between or after meals. Everything you need is only one bottle of vodka to make Appletinis, Bloody Mary, or a Caipirovska. You can find the recipes here. If you are not a fan of vodka, drinks with gin are also easy to do, such as the classic Gin and Tonic, the Gimlet, or a Monkey Gland. If you are a wine person, you can download an app and find suggestions on wines already reviewed and tested by many other persons. 

To end, do not forget: Valentine’s Day is all about passion and love. And for more decoration, you can check here. Party Warehouse Outlet has a wide variety of decorations and accessories to help you celebrate this day.