Although references to St. Valentine exist right back to the Middle Ages, the traditions that we associate with the 14th of February today were probably first popularised in Victorian times.
This era saw the first mass production of greeting cards, with 60,000 cards sent by post in 1835, despite postage being expensive*.
More recently, the giving of flowers, jewellery and heart shaped chocolates has become popular too. Roses particularly so, due to being a common symbol of passion and romantic love in art and poetry**.
However, many people believe that Valentine’s Day has become overly commercialised, and is now more about consumerism than true love. They may have a point – the average amount spent on a Valentine’s gift in America is now USD$130***
A more personal, thoughtful alternative is to go DIY and make your own Valentine’s Day token for a loved one or family member. Children can help make hand-drawn cards and with a little help from Betty Crocker, you could bake something delicious for Valentine’s Day, like a bouquet of cupcakes – much tastier than the real thing.
Sources:
* “Valentine cards reveal Britain’s relationship history”, Manchester Metropolitan University, Retrieved February 8, 2014
** “Why roses are the symbol of love and romance” Jane Cunningham, The Metro newspaper, UK 8 Feb 2012
*** “Valentine’s day by the numbers”, CNN, February 14, 2013