Friday 1 January 2016

Valentine's Day







Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a holiday in most of them.




St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies. A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Today, Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6 and July 30, the former date in honor of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni). In Brazil, the Dia de São Valentim is recognized on June 12.

The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). In Europe, Saint Valentine's Keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart", as well as to children, in order to ward off Saint Valentine's Malady. Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.



Historical facts

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 496 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. The relics of Saint Valentine were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV". The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Other relics are found at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino). Jack B. Oruch states that "abstracts of the acts of the two saints were in nearly every church and monastery of Europe." The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him. Saint Valentine's head was preserved in the abbey of New Minster, Winchester, and venerated.

February 14 is celebrated as St. Valentine's Day in various Christian denominations; it has, for example, the rank of 'commemoration' in the calendar of saints in the Anglican Communion. In addition, the feast day of Saint Valentine is also given in the calendar of saints of the Lutheran Church. However, in the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feast day of Saint Valentine on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14." The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan (Malta) where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Second Vatican Council calendar. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, St. Valentine's Day is celebrated on July 6, in which Saint Valentine, the Roman presbyter, is honoured; furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox Church obsesrves the feast of Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, on July 30.

Legends

J.C. Cooper, in The Dictionary of Christianity, writes that Saint Valentine was "a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring persecuted Christians." Contemporary records of Saint Valentine were most probably destroyed during this Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century. In the 5th or 6th century, a work called Passio Marii et Marthae published a story of martyrdom for Saint Valentine of Rome, perhaps by borrowing tortures that happened to other saints, as was usual in the literature of that period. The same events are also found in Bede's Martyrology, which was compiled in the 8th century. It states that Saint Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer Asterius. The jailer's daughter and his forty-four member household (family members and servants) came to believe in Jesus and were baptized. A later Passio repeated the legend, adding that Pope Julius I built a church over his sepulchre (it is a confusion with a 4th-century tribune called Valentino who donated land to build a church at a time when Julius was a Pope). The legend was picked up as fact by later martyrologies, starting by Bede's martyrology in the 8th century. It was repeated in the 13th century, in Legenda Aurea. The book expounded briefly the Early Medieval acta of several Saint Valentines, and this legend was assigned to the Valentine under February 14.

There is an additional embellishment to The Golden Legend, which according to Henry Ansgar Kelly, was added centuries later, and widely repeated. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he would have written the first "valentine" card himself, addressed to the daughter of his jailer Asterius, who was no longer blind, signing as "Your Valentine." The expression "From your Valentine" was later adopted by modern Valentine letters. This legend has been published by both American Greetings and The History Channel.

John Foxe, an English historian, as well as the Order of Carmelites, state that Saint Valentine was buried in the Church of Praxedes in Rome, located near the cemetery of Saint Hippolytus. This order says that according to legend, "Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship."

Another embellishment is that Saint Valentine would have performed clandestine Christian weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. The Roman Emperor Claudius II supposedly forbade this in order to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. However, this supposed marriage ban was never issued, and in fact Claudius II told his soldiers to take two or three women for themselves after his victory over the Goths.

According to legend, in order "to remind these men of their vows and God’s love, Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment", giving them to these soldiers and persecuted Christians, a possible origin of the widespread use of hearts on St. Valentine's Day.

Saint Valentine supposedly wore a purple amethyst ring, customarily worn on the hands of Christian bishops with an image of Cupid engraved in it, a recognizable symbol associated with love that was legal under the Roman Empire; Roman soldiers would recognize the ring and ask him to perform marriage for them. Probably because of the association with Saint Valentine, amethyst has become the birthstone of February, and it's thought to attract love.

Folk traditions

While the European folk traditions connected with Saint Valentine and St. Valentine's Day have become marginalized by the modern Anglo-American customs connecting the day with romantic love, there are some remaining associations connecting the saint with the advent of spring.

While the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK, Valentine's Day still remains connected with various regional customs in England. In Norfolk, a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.

In Slovenia, Saint Valentine or Zdravko was one of the saints of spring, the saint of good health and the patron of beekeepers and pilgrims. A proverb says that "Saint Valentine brings the keys of roots". Plants and flowers start to grow on this day. It has been celebrated as the day when the first work in the vineyards and in the fields commences. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Another proverb says "Valentin – prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — the first spring saint"), as in some places (especially White Carniola), Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring. Valentine's Day has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love was traditionally March 12, the Saint Gregory's day, or February 22, Saint Vincent's Day. The patron of love was Saint Anthony, whose day has been celebrated on June 13.

Lupercalia

There is no evidence of any link between St. Valentine's Day and the rites of the ancient Roman festival, despite many claims by many authors. The celebration of Saint Valentine did not have any romantic connotations until Chaucer's poetry about "Valentines" in the 14th century.

Popular modern sources claim links to unspecified Greco-Roman February holidays alleged to be devoted to fertility and love to St. Valentine's Day, but prior to Chaucer in the 14th century, there were no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love. Earlier links as described above were focused on sacrifice rather than romantic love. In the ancient Athenian calendar the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.


In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia, observed February 13–15, was an archaic rite connected to fertility. Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier "or "the chaste Juno", was celebrated on February 13–14. Pope Gelasius I (492–496) abolished Lupercalia. Some researchers have theorized that Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with the celebration of the Purification of Mary in February 14 and claim a connection to the 14th century's connotations of romantic love, but there is no historical indication that he ever intended such a thing. Also, the dates don't fit because at the time of Gelasius I the feast was only celebrated in Jerusalem, and it was on February 14 only because Jerusalem placed the Nativity on January 6. Although it was called "Purification of Mary", it dealt mainly with the presentation of Jesus at the temple. The Jerusalem's Purification of Mary on February 14 became the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple on February 2 as it was introduced to Rome and other places in the sixth century, after Gelasius I's time.

Alban Butler in his Lifes of the Principal Saints (1756–1759) claimed without proof that men and women in Lupercalia drew names from a jar to make couples, and that modern Valentine's letters originated from this custom. In reality, this practice originated in the Middle Ages, with no link to Lupercalia, with men drawing the names of girls at random to couple with them. This custom was combated by priests, for example by Frances de Sales around 1600, apparently by replacing it with a religious custom of girls drawing the names of apostles from the altar. However, this religious custom is recorded as soon as the 13th century in the life of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, so it could have a different origin.


Chaucer's love birds

Jack B. Oruch writes that the first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote:

    For this was on seynt Volantynys day

    Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

["For this was on St. Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381. (When they were married eight months later, they were each only 15 years old).

Readers have uncritically assumed that Chaucer was referring to February 14 as Valentine's Day; however, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in England. Henry Ansgar Kelly has pointed out that Chaucer could be referring to May 3, the celebration in the liturgical calendar of Valentine of Genoa, an early bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307. Jack B. Oruch says that date for the start of Spring has changed since Chaucer's time because of the precession of equinoxes and the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582. The date would correspond to the modern 23 February, a time when some birds have started mating and nesting in England.

Chaucer's Parliament of Foules is set in a fictional context of an old tradition, but in fact there was no such tradition before Chaucer. The speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as historical fact, had their origins among 18th-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. Most notably, "the idea that Valentine's Day customs perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present".

There were three other authors who made poems about birds mating in St. Valentine's Day around the same years: Otton de Grandson from Savoy, John Gower from England, and a knight called Pardo from Valencia. Chaucer most probably predated all of them, but, due to the difficulty of dating medieval works, we can't know for sure who of the four had the idea first and influenced the others.




China

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. In Chinese, Valentine's Day is called lovers' festival (simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; pinyin: qíng rén jié). The so-called "Chinese Valentine's Day" is the Qixi Festival, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It commemorates a day on which a legendary cowherder and weaving maid are allowed to be together. Valentine's Day on February 14 is not celebrated because it is often too close to the Chinese New Year, which usually falls on either January or February.[citation needed] In Chinese culture, there is an older observance related to lovers, called "The Night of Sevens" (Chinese: ??; pinyin: Qi Xi). According to the legend, the Cowherd star and the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the Milky Way (silvery river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.

In recent years, celebrating White Day has also become fashionable among some young people.

Finland and Estonia

In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's Day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not significant others. In Estonia Valentine's Day is called sõbrapäev, which has the same meaning.

France

In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin", and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries.

Greece

St. Valentine's Day, or in Greek tradition was not associated with romantic love; In the Eastern Orthodox church there is another Saint who protects people who are in love, Hyacinth of Caesarea (feast day 3 July), but in contemporary Greece, this tradition has mostly been superseded by the "globalized" form of Valentine's Day.



In India, in antiquity, there was a tradition of adoring Kamadeva, the lord of love; exemplificated by the erotic carvings in the Khajuraho Group of Monuments and by the writing of the Kamasutra treaty of lovemaking. This tradition was lost around the Middle Ages, when Kamadeva was no longer celebrated, and public displays of sexual affection became frowned upon. This repression of public affections persisted until the 1990s.

In the state of West Bengal, Saraswati Puja, a festival observed in early spring where Saraswati, the goddess of learning is worshipped; has often been seen as a Bengali version of Valentine's Day; especially among the urban middle-class youth.

Valentine's Day celebrations did not catch on in India until around 1992. It was spread due to the programs in commercial TV channels, such as MTV, dedicated radio programs and love letter competitions, in addition to an economical liberalization that allowed the explosion of the valentine card industry. Economic liberalization also helped the Valentine card industry. The celebration has caused a sharp change on how people have been displaying their affection in public since the Middle Ages.

In modern times, Hindu and Islamic traditionalists have considered the holiday to be cultural contamination from the West, a result of the globalization in India. Shiv Sena and the Sangh Parivar have asked their followers to shun the holiday and the "public admission of love" because of them being "alien to Indian culture". Although these protests are organized by political elites, the protesters themselves are middle-class Hindu men who fear that the globalization will destroy the traditions in their society: arranged marriages, Hindu joint families, full-time mothers, etc.

Despite these obstacles, Valentine's Day is becoming increasingly popular in India.

Valentine's Day has been strongly criticized from a postcolonial perspective by intellectuals from the Indian left. The holiday is regarded as a front for "Western imperialism", "neocolonialism", and "the exploitation of working classes through commercialism by multinational corporations". Studies have shown that Valentine's Day promotes and exacerbates income inequality in India, and aids in the creation of a pseudo-westernized middle class.[citation needed] As a result, the working classes and rural poor become more disconnected socially, politically, and geographically from the hegemonic capitalist power structure. They also criticize mainstream media attacks on Indians opposed to Valentine's Day as a form of demonization that is designed and derived to further the Valentine's Day agenda. Right wing Hindu nationalists are also hostile. In February 2012 Subash Chouhan of the Bajrang Dal warned couples that "They cannot kiss or hug in public places. Our activists will beat them up". He said "We are not against love, but we criticize vulgar exhibition of love at public places".

Iran

In Iran, the Sepandarmazgan, or Esfandegan, is a festival where people express love towards their mothers and wives, and it is also a celebration of earth in ancient Persian culture. It has been progressively forgotten in favor of the Western celebration of Valentine's Day. The Association of Iran's Cultural and Natural Phenomena has been trying since 2006 to make Sepandarmazgan a national holiday on 17 February, in order to replace the Western holiday.

Israel

In Israel, the Jewish tradition of Tu B'Av has been revived and transformed into the Jewish equivalent of Valentine's Day. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Av (usually in late August). In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them (Mishna Taanith end of Chapter 4). Today, Tu B'Av is celebrated as a second holiday of love by secular people (beside Valentine's Day), and it shares many of the customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day in western societies. In modern Israeli culture Tu B'Av is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.


Japan

In Japan, Morozoff Ltd. introduced the holiday for the first time in 1936, when it ran an advertisement aimed at foreigners. Later in 1953 it began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates; other Japanese confectionery companies followed suit thereafter. In 1958 the Isetan department store ran a "Valentine sale". Further campaigns during the 1960s popularized the custom.

The custom that only women give chocolates to men may have originated from the translation error of a chocolate-company executive during the initial campaigns.[88] In particular, office ladies give chocolate to their co-workers. Unlike western countries, gifts such as greeting cards, candies, flowers, or dinner dates[89] are uncommon, and most of the activity about the gifts is about giving the right amount of chocolate to each person. Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year.

Many women feel obliged to give chocolates to all male co-workers, except when the day falls on a Sunday, a holiday. This is known as giri-choko (?????), from giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"), with unpopular co-workers receiving only "ultra-obligatory" cho-giri choko cheap chocolate. This contrasts with honmei-choko (?????, favorite chocolate), chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (????); from tomo meaning "friend".

In the 1980s the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association launched a successful campaign to make March 14 a "reply day", where men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day, calling it White Day for the color of the chocolates being offered. A previous failed attempt to popularize this celebration had been done by a marshmallow manufacturer who wanted men to return marshmallows to women.

Men are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times more valuable than the gifts received in Valentine's Day. Not returning the gift is perceived as the man placing himself in a position of superiority, even if excuses are given. Returning a present of equal value is considered as a way to say that you are cutting the relationship. Originally only chocolate was given, but now the gifts of jewelry, accessories, clothing and lingerie are usual. According to the official website of White Day, the color white was chosen because it's the color of purity, evoking "pure, sweet teen love", and because it's also the color of sugar. The initial name was "Ai ni Kotaeru White Day" (Answer Love on White Day).

In Japan, the romantic "date night" associated to Valentine's Day is celebrated on Christmas Eve.

In a 2006 survey of people between 10 and 49 years of age in Japan, Oricon Style found the 1986 Sayuri Kokusho single "Valentine Kiss" to be the most popular Valentine's Day song, even though it sold only 317,000 copies. The singles it beat in the ranking were number one selling "Love Love Love" from Dreams Come True (2,488,630 copies) and "Valentine's Radio" from Yumi Matsutoya (1,606,780 copies). The final song in the top five was "My Funny Valentine" by Miles Davis.

In Japan, a slightly different version of a holiday based on a lovers' story called Tanabata (??) has been celebrated for centuries, on July 7 (Gregorian calendar). It has been considered by Westerners as similar to St. Valentine's Day, but it's not related to it, and its origins are completely different.



Latin America

In some Latin American countries Valentine's Day is known as "Día del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship). For example Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic,[citation needed] Ecuador, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, as well as others. It is also common to see people perform "acts of appreciation" for their friends. In Guatemala it is known as the "Día del Cariño" (Affection Day). In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados (lit. "Lovers' Day", or "Boyfriends'/Girlfriends' Day") is celebrated on June 12, probably because that is the day before Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint, when traditionally many single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, in order to find a good husband or boyfriend. Couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and flower bouquets. The February 14 Valentine's Day is not celebrated at all because it usually falls too little before or too little after the Brazilian Carnival — that can fall anywhere from early February to early March and lasts almost a week. Because of the absence of Valentine's Day and due to the celebrations of the Carnivals, Brazil is a popular tourist spot during February for Western singles who want to get away from the holiday.

In most of Latin America the Día del amor y la amistad and the Amigo secreto ("Secret friend") are quite popular and are usually celebrated together on the 14 February (one exception is Colombia, where it is celebrated on the third Saturday in September). The latter consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).

A chocolate gift box

Cup cake with hearts

Philippines

In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is called Araw ng mga Puso ("Hearts Day"), and is celebrated in much the same manner as in the West. It is usually marked by a steep increase in the price of flowers, particularly red roses.

Portugal

In Portugal it is more commonly referred to as "Dia dos Namorados" (Lover's Day / Day of the Enamoured).

Romania

In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day. This has drawn backlash from several groups, institutions and nationalist organizations like Noua Dreapta, who condemn Valentine's Day for being superficial, commercialist and imported Western kitsch. In order to counter the perceived denaturation of national culture, Dragobete, a spring festival celebrated in parts of Southern Romania, has been rekindled as the traditional Romanian holiday for lovers. Its date used to vary depending on the geographical area, however nowadays it is commonly observed on February 24. The holiday is named after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of Baba Dochia. His name has been associated, possibly through folk etymology, to the word drag ("dear"), which can also be found in the word dragoste ("love").

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has illegalized Valentine's Day. Youth people in Saudi Arabia has arrested since Saudi Arabia think Valentine's Day is not an Islamic festival.

Scandinavia

In Denmark and Norway, although February 14 is known as Valentinsdag, it is not celebrated to a large extent, but is largely imported from American culture, and some people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one. The cut-flower industry in particular is still working on promoting the holiday. In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry's commercial interests, and due to the influence of American culture. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only exceeded by those for Mother's Day.

Singapore

According to findings, Singaporeans are among the biggest spenders on Valentine's Day, with 60% of Singaporeans indicating that they would spend between $100 and $500 during the season leading up to the holiday.

South Korea

In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14 (White Day). On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on 14 February or March go to a Chinese-Korean restaurant to eat black noodles (jajangmyeon) and lament their 'single life'. Koreans also celebrate Pepero Day on November 11, when young couples give each other Pepero cookies. The date '11/11' is intended to resemble the long shape of the cookie. The 14th of every month marks a love-related day in Korea, although most of them are obscure. From January to December: Candle Day, Valentine's Day, White Day, Black Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Wine Day, Movie Day, and Hug Day.[104] Korean women give a much higher amount of chocolate than Japanese women.

Spain

In Spain, Valentine's Day is known as "San Valentín" and is celebrated the same way as in the UK, it is however not celebrated in Catalonia.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, traditional Qixi Festival, Valentine's Day and White Day are all celebrated. However, the situation is the reverse of Japan's. Men give gifts to women on Valentine's Day, and women return them on White Day.

Wales

In Wales, many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen's Day) on January 25 instead of (or as well as) Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

Conflict with Islamic countries and political parties

Iran

In the first part of the 21st century, the celebration of Valentine's Day in Iran has been harshly criticized by Islamic teachers who see the celebrations as opposed to Islamic culture. In 2011, the Iranian printing works owners' union issued a directive banning the printing and distribution of any goods promoting the holiday, including cards, gifts and teddy bears. "Printing and producing any goods related to this day including posters, boxes and cards emblazoned with hearts or half-hearts, red roses and any activities promoting this day are banned ... Outlets that violate this will be legally dealt with", the union warned.

Malaysia

Islamic officials in Malaysia warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine's Day, linking it with vice activities. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the celebration of romantic love was "not suitable" for Muslims. Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), which oversees the country's Islamic policies said that a fatwa (ruling) issued by the country's top clerics in 2005 noted that the day 'is associated with elements of Christianity,' and 'we just cannot get involved with other religions' worshipping rituals.' Jakim officials planned to carry out a nationwide campaign called "Awas Jerat Valentine's Day" ("Mind the Valentine's Day Trap"), aimed at preventing Muslims from celebrating the day on 14 February 2011. Activities include conducting raids in hotels to stop young couples from having unlawful sex and distributing leaflets to Muslim university students warning them against the day.

On Valentine's Day 2011, Malaysian religious authorities arrested more than 100 Muslim couples concerning the celebration ban. Some of them would be charged in the Shariah Court for defying the department's ban against the celebration of Valentine's Day.

Pakistan

The concept of Valentine's Day was introduced into Pakistan during the late 1990s with special TV and radio programs. The Jamaat-e-Islami political party has called for the banning of Valentine's Day celebration. Despite this, the celebration is becoming popular among urban youth and the florists expect to sell a great amount of flowers, especially red roses. The case is the same with card publishers.

There was a protest in Lahore against the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day led by the "Tahaffuz-e-Namoose-Risaalat [an organization defending the Prophet's code of life]."

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, in 2002 and 2008, religious police banned the sale of all Valentine's Day items, telling shop workers to remove any red items, because the day is considered a Christian holiday. This ban has created a black market for roses and wrapping paper. In 2012 the religious police arrested more than 140 Muslims for celebrating the holiday, and confiscated all red roses from flower shops. Muslims are not allowed to celebrate the holiday, and non-Muslims can celebrate only behind closed doors.

In 2014, religious police in Saudi Arabia arrested five men for celebrating St. Valentine's Day "in the company" of six women. The Buraidah criminal court pronounced sentences totaling 32 years of imprisonment and 4,500 lashes to the men.

"Saudi cleric Sheikh Muhammad Al-'Arifi said on Valentine's Day Eve that celebrating this holiday constitutes bid'a – a forbidden innovation and deviation from religious law and custom – and mimicry of the West."

Sailor's valentine

Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

Singles Awareness Day

Valentine's Day (2010 film)

V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls.

Women's Memorial March, held on Valentine's Day in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Happy valentines day 2017 sms




 





You are so humble and caring,
With you,it is a great sharing,
The best life partner that I could ask is you,
Thanks for being the best wifey, a very special thanks to you!
Happy valentines day!



Wen I Look At You
I Cannot Deny There Is God
Cause Only God Could Have Created Someone
As Wonderful & Beautiful As You…
Happy valentines day!



You are the twinkle of my eyes;
The smile on my lips;
The joy of my face;
Without you I am incomplete.
Happy Teddy Bear Day!



I looked at a sweet, beautiful rose,
And then I looked at you,
And I kept looking at you,
For the rose isn't as beautiful as you.
Happy Rose Day!
 
 



Dear hubby,
We make an awesome couple you know,
I may not have too many gestures to show,
But, I truly love you from my heart,
No one can ever make us apart,
Love you loads!
Happy Valentines day!
 



I thought love was just a mirage of the mind,
it's an illusion, it's fake, impossible to find.
But the day I met you, I began to see,
that love is real, and exists in me.
Happy Valentine Day!


to my darling XXX
You kissed my lips and I felt a flutter in my heart,
You touched my hand and lit a spark in my body,
You stared into my eyes and saw straight into my soul,
You put your arms around me and I was finally complete.
Happy Valentine Day!
from XXX


I asked God for a flower, he gave me a bouquet
I asked God for a minute, he gave me a day
I asked God for true love, he gave me that too
I asked for an angel and he gave me you.
Happy Valentine Day!


I love your dark eyes,
And your curly hair,
I love your smile,
And the way that you care.


I love your deep kisses,
I love your soft touch,
I love you, I love you,
I love you so much.
Happy Valentine Day!


You are more than love to me...
You are everything.
Happy Valentine Day!



Every time I look at you
my heart skips a beat
I wonder if you know, my love,
that my heart is at your feet
I leave it there for you to do
whatever that you wish
You could take my heart,
and love me,
Or just leave me in this bliss.
Happy Valentine Day!


to my darling XXX
I wrote your name in the sky,
but the wind blew it away.
I wrote your name in the sand,
but the waves washed it away.
I wrote your name in my heart,
and forever it will stay.
Happy Valentine Day!
from XXX


Your love surrounds me like the air that I breathe.
Your kiss touches me as gentle as a breeze.
Your touch is as tender as that of a child.
Your hug is warm, meek, and mild.
Each day we grow older and its plain to see,
The love that you give me is all that I need.
Happy Valentine Day!


You are my heart, my soul, my treasure,
My today, my tomorrow, my forever,
My everything!
Happy Valentine Day!


Your eyes, your smile.
Your touch, your kiss.
Your promise, your words.
Our everlasting bliss.
Happy Valentine Day!


Day by day teri khusiya ho jaye Double,
Teri zindagi se delete ho jaye sare Trouble,
Khuda rakkhe humesha tujhe Smart & Fit,
Tera liye Valentine Day ho Super-Duper Hit!!


Its d Month of
Kisses, Surprises,
Proposals n Dates,
Chocolates n Gifts,
Hugs n Luv Songs

It’s feb..
Wishing u a Love filled
Valentine Month..!!

Valentine's Day Facts




Welcome to Valentine's Day Facts. As Valentine's Day comes once more, with flowers, chocolates and gifts, let's take a look at the secrets of this beautiful day. It is very interesting to know all about the facts that tell the story behind the Valentine's Day. Know what Valentine symbols hold for us. So on this Valentine's Day as your heart reaches out to your sweetheart, let this old but valuable trivia help you select the perfect gift for your darling. Come let's take a tour on the best facts about Valentine's Day and know all the why, where, when and how's related to the valentine's day:

Valentine's Day Facts

1.)The day is celebrated as the commemorative day of Saint Valentine. The interesting fact is it is not certain whether this is one specific person, or the group of 14 martyred saints of ancient Rome, all of the same name.

2.) The Valentine's Day chocolate boxes were introduced in 1868 by Richard Cadbury.

3.) Some popular symbols of love used to express the feelings are cupid, arrows, doves, love birds, roses, and hearts.

4.) Pope Gelasius I of Rome declared Saint Valentine's burial day as the Valentine's Day, in 496 AD.

5.)The girls during medieval times used to eat strange food items, as it was believed that by doing so they would dream of their future spouse or lover.

6.) The Saint to whom the day has been dedicated brought nothing romantic to be attached to the day. However, the earliest association of Valentine's Day with romance goes to the credit of great writer Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote in his Parlement of Foules, 1382,"For this was on seynt Volantynys day, Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make", and hence beginning the tradition.

7.) During 19th century, physicians would prescribe chocolates to their patients, who would pine for a lost love.

8.) The cops of Saudi Arabia banned the sale of anything red or symbolizing love in 2002 and 2008, believing that this is a Christian festival, resulting in a black market of Valentine's Day gifts in 2008, which witnessed an even bigger number of customers.

9.) Apart from lovers, spouses, and sweethearts, the other people who receive maximum number of flowers, cards and gifts on the day are, mothers and teachers.

10.) The University of Maryland, educates the masses and media about the Valentine's day, through its academic experts.

11.)We all have heard the phrase "wearing your heart on your sleeve", but the phrase has actually come from Middle Ages, when according to a popular tradition, young men and women would draw chits from a bowl, to know the names of their valentines and then, would wear that name on their sleeve for the entire week.

12.) The day is also a great day for the beloved pets of many families, as it has been surveyed that people, in huge numbers, bring gifts for their pets also on Valentine's Day.

13.) The famous gifts and cards company Hallmark, launched its first valentine product in 1913

14.) The Medieval concept of Courtly Love, where male lover would court and praise the beloved through chivalrous deeds and poetry, descended from the ancient traditions associated with Valentine's Day.


Other Related Valentine's Day Facts

1.) Mother's day and valentine's day are the two biggest occasions on which flowers are given.

2.) Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.

3.) In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day".

4.) In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots", so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow.

5.) In some Latin American countries Valentine's Day is known as "Día del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship

6.) In Korea, the custom is if you do not receive any gift on Valentine's Day, then you, along with all the singles, go to Korean restaurants and eat black noodles to mourn their single status.

Valentine Cards

1.) Every year around 1 billion Valentine cards are sent across. After Christmas it's a single largest seasonal card-sending occasion.

2.) Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children between ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and fagmily members.

Valentine Flowers/Roses

1.) Received Valentine Flowers? Well I guess you are a woman. Of the 73% of people who buy Valentine's Day flowers are men, while only 27 percent are women.

2.) A single perfect red rose framed with baby's breath is named by some florists as a "signature rose," and is the preferred choice for most for giving on Valentine's Day, anniversaries and birthdays.

3.) The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The color red stands for strong romantic feelings making the red rose the flower of love.

Cupid

1.) Cupid is a symbol of Valentine's Day. Cupid was associated with Valentine's Day because he was the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Cupid often appears on Valentine cards and gift tokens holding a bow and arrows as he is believed to use magical arrows to arouse feelings of love.

Love Letters and Poems Refer:( Valentine Love Letters)

1.) Verona, the Italian city where Shakespeare's play lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters every year sent to Juliet on Valentine's Day.

2.) The oldest surviving love poem till date is written in a clay tablet from the times of the Sumerians, inventors of writing, around 3500 B.C.

Wear your Heart on your Sleeve

1.) In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew the names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned on their sleeves for one week. This was done so that it became easy for other people to know their true feelings. This was known as "to wear your heart on your sleeve"


Valentine Gifts

1.) On February 14th, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Valentine's Day in Wales. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite Valentine decorations on the wooden spoons. This Valentine decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

2.) The most beautiful and incredible gift of love is the monument Taj Mahal in India. Built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife; it stands as the emblem of the eternal love story. Work on the Taj Mahal began in 1634 and continued for almost 22 years and required the labor of 20,000 workers from all over India and Central Asia.

3.) In America, the pilgrims used to send confections, such as sugar wafers, marzipan, sweetmeats and sugar plums, to their affianced. Lot of value was placed on these gifts because they included what was then a rare product, sugar. After the late 1800's, beet sugar became widely used and more available and sweet gifts continued to be cherished and enjoyed.

4.) Amongst the earliest Valentine's Day gifts were candies. The most common were chocolates in heart shaped boxes.

The Valentine Heart

1.) The heart is associated to Valentine's Day as it is considered the source of all human emotions. The custom of drawing a heart shape is supposed to have come from early attempts to draw an organ that no one had seen. The symbol came on to become as a sign of love.

2.) The heart has been the most common figure of romantic love over the decades. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. The heart may be linked with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the goal of Eros, known as Cupid to the Romans. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid's arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is also closely linked to love, its red color is considered as most romantic.

Birds

1.) Lovebirds are often associated with Valentine's Day. These lovebirds found in Africa, are brightly colored and sit very close together with their mates, earning them their name.

2.) Doves are also part of the Valentine tradition. These birds are symbols of love and loyalty because they mate for life. A pair of doves will also share the care of all their babies.

3.) In olden times some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on the 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 millionaire.


Love Knots

1.) A love knot is a symbol of undying love, as its twisting loops have no beginnings or ends. In olden times, they were made of ribbon or drawn on paper to prove one's eternal love.

2.) So friends now that we know the Valentine day facts, start your shopping today and express your love to your sweetheart. Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentines Day Ideas & Tips






Falling on the 14th of February each year, there is no other day of love, which is celebrated with so much zest and eagerness as Valentine's Day. The universal truth is the feeling of being in love is something that is unparalleled, and having that someone special by your side who takes care of your every whim and fancy is a dream that everyone of us longs for. So when it comes to the celebration of love, needless to say, it should be something special. Do not miss the occasion of this Valentine's day! To make your V'Day even more special for your beloved, we have for you special Valentine's Day Ideas 2014.

We have for you a bunch of fun ideas that you can explore and implement. These ideas are going to be an instant hit with your beloved. We ensure that this Valentine's Day is going to be the one of the most memorable days of your lives. So look no further for ideas to make your beloved feel special, just scroll through our host of ideas and we are sure that you will be loved even more for it.

You can try creating a treasure hunt for your lover, with clues leading up to an event or a gift that you have planned for them.

Wake up your beloved with the sight of a love note where you tell them just how much you love them. Strew them around the house and at every place where you know that they might look. The fact that they will find your notes of love everywhere is sure to make them feel special.

You can try to take your loved one out for a fancy dinner. If you are rather the home bird kind then a special meal prepared for them by you, is the best thing. Think of a candle lit dinner, talks and the perfect food, what else more could the heart want. Try decorating the room with the theme of love. Heart shaped balloons and decorations are bound to make the day seem as special as it can be.

For the literary and creative side of you, you can bring out the writing cap on; you can try to write a love poem or a love song to your beloved. That will not only make your beloved feel loved, but is sure to melt their heart too.

You could try to gift your lover personalized gift items, that are sure to make your lover feel like a million bucks, it could be a piece of jewelry, photo frames, shopping vouchers, perfumes etc. In fact, the options are virtually endless when it comes to personalizing and customizing gifts.

For those of you who love to travel, going out for a vacation too would be a great idea. You could go away on a sabbatical to a lovely destination that is only going to add to the beauty of your relationship.

You could also re-live the tale of your romance and try re-creating the moments that made you fall in love, try by visiting places or doing certain things; you will watch the sparks flying all across the place.
   
Try to pamper your lover as much as you can, you could even go out for a spa pampering session together; it is bound to fill the day with delight.

No Money, No Worry

Celebrate Valentine's Day in 1 Dollar

Teens are often left with no or very less pocket money when they have to buy something special for their love on Valentine's Day. However, the good news is that it is possible to woo your partner even with a budget as less as 1 dollar. The best way to fit your celebrations within such a budget is to gift a beautiful rose or make a craft item at home. Call over your love at your place and rustle up a dish using available supplies. This will not cost you anything and still prove to be effective in wooing your love. Pluck some fresh flowers and decorate your place with them to make your partner feel amazing. Your partner will love the idea of being showered with flowers on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 2 Dollars


With 2 dollars as budget to spend on Valentine's Day, it is unlikely that you can arrange a big party for your love, but you can still impress your partner with beautiful house decorations. Gather all the decorative items that have been lying unused for days at your place and put it to your best use to adorn the home. Welcome your partner with a sprinkling of love petal shower or prepare a bed filled with roses for your love. Although such an act will not cost you much, it will go a long way in getting that priceless smiling expression on the face of your lover. Present your Valentine with a scrapbook with pictures of the special times that both of you have shared together.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 5 Dollars

Prepare the morning tea when your Valentine wakes up and present a bunch of flowers to start the day on a celebratory note. Giving such a surprise to your partner in the morning will pave the way for a delightful day ahead and will surely fit well within your tight budget. Make a sweet Valentine's Day card or take a walk on the beach side at night while relishing a local brand ice cream if your budget does not allow you to spend beyond 5 dollar.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 10 Dollars

There is no reason for getting disheartened to not be able to spend lavishly on your Valentine on the special day if you are left with as less as 10 dollars in your pocket. You can still arrange for a few things that will fit within this budget and go a long way in making the day special for your partner. Buy candles and small lighting bulbs to adorn the table set near the beachside. Talk for hours or gaze at each other's eye as the sound of waves fill up the silence between you two. Gift some hand-made cookies or place a coupon holder that has been made by you. Let your love read out the messages in each coupon to know how the days ahead with you will turn out to be more lovely and romantic.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 15 Dollars

Celebrate the Valentine's Day by visiting a park and munching on some light snacks to fit the celebrations well within your budget of 15 dollar. Although, it is not possible for you to splurge on your love, but you can take her out to the nearest garden and you both can engage in romantic conversation for hours to end the day in a special way. Buy a few flowers and some local chocolates while you enjoy each other's company. You can also make a special Valentine's Day Card for your love with cheap supplies that are easily available at home. Gifting a hand purse or a mobile cover will also be a great idea to go well with your tight budget.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 20 Dollars

If you like to spend Valentine's Day on a limited budget of 20 dollars, you can think of taking her out to a place of natural beauty that has no entry fees yet has a romantic charm to help you both spend a wonderful time. You can take your partner to a mountaintop and shout out your love for him/her. Take a packet of crunchy snacks and water cans while you take your love to the hills and climb the mountain hand in hand. It will fit well within your budget of 20 dollars. You can make a basket of tissue flowers to gift your love on Valentine's Day. Call over your Valentine to your place and spruce it up with old, scented candles that are lying at your place. Lay down a beautifully decorated table and catch up with your love over hot cups of coffee. Carry on a romantic conversation as you relish the homemade coffee.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 25 Dollars

You are wrong if you think that you cannot celebrate Valentine's Day with as the limited budget as 25 dollars. It is possible to impress your love with such a small budget as all you need is some creative thinking. Plan a date to a place that is known for its natural beauty and ask your partner to cycle to that exotic location along with you. Enjoy the romantic ride as you both make your way through to the beautiful destination. Carry with you some chocolates or snacks to whet your appetite. Prepare some sandwiches or snacks on your own as a lunch item if you have such a budget marked for your Valentine day celebration.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 30 Dollars

Celebrate Valentine's Day with your partner is a special and unique way even when you have a budget of merely 30 dollars. Look for great spa deals and you are sure to find a suitable rejuvenating package for both of you. Let your senses relax as you along with your partner take a spa deal of less than 30 dollar. It will be a good idea to check out smart deals offered in dining options. Take your Valentine to a small cafe to spend some good moments together over a cup of hot beverage of your partner's choice.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 50 Dollars

You might feel a little disheartened if you could only save as much as 50 dollars to spend with your partner on Valentine's Day. However, there is no reason to feel disappointed as there are still quite a few things that you can do to take your love by surprise on this special day. Plan a trip to the botanical gardens or visit a vineyard together. Walk hand in hand as you capture some romantic moments in your lens while exploring the most decorated and lovely plantations. For a small fee, you and your partner can spend a romantic time together in the vineyard by partaking in grape stomping. As you roam around the garden present her some small gifts like chocolates, cooking, flowers in different colors and anything about your partner liking. You can also present an artificial ring that would cost not more than $50 and can make your day. It will be an unusual way to spend the romantic day by getting your feet wet.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 75 Dollars

Be happy if you have managed to save as much as 75 dollars to spend with your partner for Valentine's Day celebration. You can take your love out to a small little cafe that serves some street-side food to fit well within your budget. Reminisce the magic of old-days as you hog on some mouth-watering delicacies with your partner and create some wonderful memories. Call over your valentine to your place and rustle up a special meal with inexpensive, yetve yet quality food supplies to impress your partner with your cooking skills. You can hire a local musician for a small fee and make him play some love songs and romantic tunes dedicated just for your love. If you don't have your own vehicle, you can hire a bike for a day and take your partner to his/her favorite places.

Valentine's Day Ideas under 100 Dollars

Take a boat trip along with your partner on Valentine's Day if you have managed to collect 100 dollars to spend for the special day. It is easy to find local boats that are ready to take you for a ride on the waves for a small fee. Enjoy romancing each other your boat takes you off for a pleasurable ocean ride. Prepare a dinner table at your home with some homemade delicacies and fruit, champagne available at reasonable cost in some stores to enjoy a romantic Valentine's Day date. No matter what you are gifting your partner on this day, It's all about how much efforts you are putting to make your partner feel special. Valentine's Day is celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm by people of all ages, be in young, old, middle-aged, teens and adults. It is the day when people look forward to doing something special and gifting something unique to show their love towards their dear ones. The day of love is incomplete without expressing the deep feelings of affection that one holds towards their loved ones. The way this special occasion dedicated to love is celebrated differs from individual to individual depending on his budget as well as his preferences. There are celebratory ideas and gift ideas that can suit every wallet. Refer to the Valentine's Day Gift Ideas - from 1 dollar to 100 dollars to find ways in which you can surprise your love with novel gift and celebration ideas without bearing a deep hole in your pocket. You can also refer: Valentine Ideas for Him & Valentine Ideas for Her

Valentine Gifts




Valentine's Day can be viewed as a day of the celebration of love, when the entire world comes together to proclaim the magical feeling of being in love. With the day also comes the dilemma of picking out perfect celebratory tokens and gifts that show your loved one, just how much you care about them. You could choose from a wide array of traditional as well as non-traditional and novel ideas of gifting that you are affronted with quite naturally these days.

So be it the traditional box of chocolates and bouquets or rather the spicier and naughtier mix of things, you just have to make sure that the gift that you choose makes an appropriate representation of your relationship.

To assist you in picking out the best gifts possible that you can shower your beloved with, we have compiled a list of Valentine's Day Gifts for you that can help you decide what gifts are best suited for your loved one.

Romantic Valentine's Day Gift Ideas




February 14th is always a tough one to shop for‐do you go for the candy and card or find something out of the ordinary? When it comes to Valentine gifts, though, you can either go very right or horribly wrong.

Because it is love's own holiday, it seems like couples feel much more pressure than on any other time of year. So, how do you brush off all the stress and come out on the top?

Take a look at these four tips to master the mojo of a perfect present:

Think about your sweetheart's needs, not just the wants.
   
Some of the best gifts are those that are unexpected, yet fit the bill perfectly. Look at what he or she does every day. Is there an item that might make things easier?

   
If your boyfriend is a runner, for example, he might enjoy having a Nike+ chip to put in his shoes and measure his distance down to the meter.

   
Does your girlfriend love wine?
   
Find an automatic bottle opener that pulls the cork out in one piece every time. This type of ideas seems so straightforward; it is almost unbelievable that your dearest will like them. Trust your instincts.

   
Take something old and make it new.
   
Nothing says a love is timeless quite like bringing a classic item back to life. Let's say your wife has a book she's read so many times the binding is worn out. Why not take it to be a specialty store to have it bound again‐maybe in a nicer cover this time?

   
Show her how important it is for you to see her able to enjoy the things she does over and over again. By the same token, a husband might have an old saw in his hobby shop that is worn down. Have it sharpened up and he will be overjoyed to know he can keep right on working on his crafts.

   
Find a unique subscription to broaden your love's horizons.
   
Once again, paying attention to what your sweetie takes an interest in will do a lot for making your shopping easier. Wine or beer lovers, of course, would enjoy deliveries of new brands to help them find fresh flavors.

   
Those who enjoy cooking on the grill might want access to a different spice mix to send their taste buds wandering. A clotheshorse could like access to deep discounts or free shipping at an online retailer via membership privileges. By doing this, you give them something pleasing the whole year round, instead of just one night in February.

   
Write a series of letters and create a scavenger hunt.
   
Sentimental types love to reflect on how much relationships grow over time. Take a few hours over the course of several weeks to jot down your thoughts about your sweetheart in a range of categories‐honesty, courage, humor, etc.‐and then string them out around the house with little clues that lead him or her from one to the other.

   
If you want to go to extremes, you could enlist some of his or her friends to deliver them over the course of the day. It takes some work, but the smile you get at the end of the day will be well worth it.

   
There's no day of the year that sets the hearts aflutter quite like February 14th. No matter whether you've just started dating or have been together for decades, the scramble for valentines day ideas is part and parcel of being in a relationship. Though love is certainly built on more than our ability to shower presents on the object of our affections, a well-thought-out purchase can go a long way to showing just how well you know that person. That sort of emotional intimacy is the foundation for the type of lasting connection that leads to "Happily Ever After".

More Conventional Romantic Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

    1. Chocolates: In any form, in any shape, in any taste. This conventional, age old, yet so unique and so new gift is considered V-Day certified gift by lovers all across the world. Chocolates are divine, decadent and are closely associated with love and romance. It arouses sensuousness and is one of the main causes of the adrenalin rush. Hence the moment you gift a bunch of chocolates to your sweetie on the special day, his/her mood will be set and you will be having a cozy and amorous time together.

    2. Flowers: If by the term, a bouquet with red/pink roses is coming to your mind, then try to think out of the box. Apart from that fresh natural beauty, you can think of paper roses or plastic ones, as an epitome of everlasting love. Sounds quirky? Well, romantic as well. If your partner feels so, tell him/her those golden words: "I will love you till the roses die". Hence he/she will understand the depth of your emotions and will accept it with a smile. Don't forget to spray some perfume on it for an aromatic effect.

    3. Perfume: That can a wonderful option for your stylish and fashion conscious partner, don't forget to know her/his choice of fragrance before you hit the store. Tell him/her that the liquid might finish off, but the aroma will last long, just like your love. If she deeply loves you, ask her next year and confirm-she will be keeping the bottle, as a symbol of your feelings. Will not this be a return gift for you- What say!


    4. Gift Box- Off course full of gifts-mind you! You can show how much you love your honey by making this handmade gift especially for him/her. Show your creative side and decorate the wooden/metal box purchased from outside with colorful sand papers, or crepe papers. Bring colorful paints and draw hearts and kisses to give a romantic look to the entire box. Fill it with chocolates, candies, cup cakes, candles and lots and lots of love in form of notes and poems inside it.


    5. Spa gift vouchers: Very trendy, as well as romantic. If possible buy two such vouchers together so that you can spend some quality time with each other. Pamper yourselves through the masseur and get rejuvenated with scented oils and lotions. Relax your mind with your partner, as you two get lost in conversations for those lovely hours.


Best Valentines Day Gift Ideas For 2014

    1. A String of Love Notes : This may take some time to set up, especially coordinating how they are delivered, but this romance-as-scavenger-hunt is the kind of sweet touch everybody enjoys. Depending on how involved you want to get, you can involve your loved one's friends and family in the process, allowing them to get in on the fun. You might start with a short message of fond appreciation, and then work through two or three more loving thoughts before ending with a reservation for your favorite dinner spot.

    2. Unique Jewelry : It's hard to argue that women want something that sparkles, but another pair of earrings or a shiny tennis bracelet might be a poor choice. This is where paying attention to her sense of style comes in handy‐a local artisan could create a one‐of‐a‐kind bracelet for her incorporating both of your favorite colors. Of course, men wear rings and necklaces, too, so you might do a little research to see if there is a symbol of some significance he would like to display every day.

    3. Personalized Clothing : Though your first instinct might be to make a T-shirt with your pictures and "Together Forever!" emblazoned on the front, you would be wise to consider something a little different. With the wide number of services available through the Internet nowadays, you can create a design that highlights their trademark phrase‐as long as they find it funny‐or design something that reflects their affinity for a certain team that will be completely different than anything else out on the market.

    4. Monthly Subscription Services : No, this is not an opportunity to have your girlfriend start reading Beef and Bacon Report, it's a way to get your significant other an item they love the whole year round. If they like wine or beer, you would be able to secure them a different variety every few weeks, expanding their palate while reminding them of you. It is very tempting to go with the most straightforward when it comes to this, but you can find options for almost any taste‐everything from sports gear to sexy underwear‐and the more personal your choice, the better.

Cute Valentine SMS

Ignite the spark in your love life by expressing your deepest feelings of love and passion. If you are those shy types then sending a lovey-dovey text to your lover on Valentine's Day will be a good idea to put across your feelings.

It is the day when you can open your heart out and show your care, love and concern for your partner. Cute Valentine SMS will help you put your emotions into words that will soothe the soul of your partner and create a lasting impression.

Give expressions to your deep feelings of affection to the person you have been eyeing since long by sending cute love-filled text messages and let him know how you feel.


If you could read my eyes then you would have known that there is an ocean of love waiting for you to take a dip in it.

There is nothing more that I miss than you,
Nothing more that I need in life than you.
No one whom I love so much but you
And I want you to know that this love will last forever, my Valentine. Send Email

Your love holds the guiding light on dark roads
Show me the right direction when I am lost
Becomes the shadow when I walk alone
And Leads me To My Soul. Send Email

Your love has not let me relax and now I have taken the pledge to not rest till I get your love.


You may find a friend who will walk with you
You may find a guide who will show you new ways
You may find a teacher who will lead you on tough roads
But you will never find a true lover like me who will always be with you

Come be my Valentine and give “love” a beautiful meaning.
You are the one who makes me cry and also knows how to make me smile
You are my strength and also my weakness
You are the one who can make or break my mood
You are my valentine with whom I would like to spend the rest of my life.

If you come into my life and make me your Valentine then better ensure that you stay till the last of the time.

Breathe fresh air into my life with your love, my Valentine and let that love stay in my life forever. Send Email

If I were to die today, I would spend the rest of the day with you, wrapped around in your arms, hugging and kissing you tightly and praying silently to be your love in my next life.

Listen to your heart for once. I'll be there no matter what, no matter when ... all you need to do is call me and trust me. Do you trust me? Because I trust you. My Valentine wishes are with you at every step and every breath.

I want to be your Valentine because there is not a single second that goes by when I don't think about you as mine. Let me be yours as I've taken you for me.

Do you even know the effect you have on me? I can't sleep, eat, drink, watch TV or even look around without needing your presence around me. Is something wrong with me or is it because of my love for you?