Boats
St Valentine's Day is sometimes connected with St. Gregory's Day. There's a simple explanation for that. While February is in some places the month when birds start nesting, it's still too cold for that in other places. St Gregory's Day, 12th March, for many centuries official first day of spring, is way better for that. A custom to send a boat with a lit candle on the water as a symbol of lengthening days which meant candles wouldn't be so much in demand, transferred to St. Valentine's.
Cupid
It's believed that Cupid's arrowheads are made of diamonds which force everybody who is hit with one of them to fall in love.
Borders in the shape of Heart
Ellen H. Clapsaddle used hearts in her designs in many ways. Here, for instance, she used hearts to make a large frame in the shape of - a heart.
The heart is the most attractive internal part of the body. Most ancient nations believed that the heart is the seat of the soul and personality. You can't love or be loved without a heart, which, by the way, is conveniently made of two equal parts beating as one like two lovers in one union. And red is a color of love, of course.
There's a whole series of designs where Valentines are dominated by a cutout in the shape of the heart.
More Hearts
Even More Hearts (and Flowers)
The series with cutout hearts can be further divided into subseries like the one with children in flower pots...
... or dancers. Dance is one of the most romantic activities and is rightfully portrayed in St. Valentine's cards by Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle.
and Dancers
Cards sent on St. Valentine's Day were for many years anonymous. An initial on the card could still give a clue to the receiver (or mislead him or her) about the sender. The other option was to use the initial of the receiver. Miss Clapsaddle created a series in this area as well.
Initials
Valentine's Day is all about love. Happiness in love demands two. This is one of the particular areas where Ellen Clapsaddle excelled. She created numerous lovely postcards with boys and girls whose affection is portrayed in gentle, innocent, and sometimes humorous ways.
Umbrella
Boys
St. Valentine's cards can be sent by boys...
... or by girls.
Girls
Valentine's Day is all about love. Happiness in love demands two. This is one of the particular areas where Ellen Clapsaddle excelled. She created numerous lovely postcards with boys and girls whose affection is portrayed in gentle, innocent, and sometimes humorous ways.
Girls
A few additional quick facts:
- While 14th February officially became St. Valentine's Day in the 5th century, it became associated with romance many centuries later. This custom probably has roots in the old belief that birds start mating in the middle of February, what is exactly on St. Valentine's Day.
- Cupid, one of the most popular symbols of St. Valentine, is a mythological character with almost three thousand years of history. He and his magical bow became associated with St. Valentine's holiday in the 19th century.
- The officially oldest Valentine was sent in 1415 by French Duke Charles to his wife but mass-produced Valentine's cards were made only in the 1840s.
- About 250 million red roses are grown especially for 14th February. Red rose symbolizes love and passion but other colors with other meanings are popular as well. Here is an explanation of the rose color symbolism.
- The Americans spend on St. Valentine around two hundred dollars per person on average. They spend more than 40 million dollars altogether just for Valentine's gifts for their pets!
- While just three out of five adults give Valentine's presents to their spouses, six out of seven give presents to their children.