Valentines Day
Valentine's Day sometimes called Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 each year, with Leap Years taking on an additional prominence.
In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. Admirers also send cards or gifts of affection from afar in an anonymous fashion. The holiday is named after two of the many early Christian martyrs named Valentine.
The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courting flourished. The day is most closely associated with the exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, flowers (typically red roses) and Cupid.
Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have pretty much been lost way to commercial greeting cards. In 1847, Esther Howland developed a commercial business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models.
The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was the fore-runner of the future increase in holidays in the United States. It is estimated by The U.S. Greeting Card Association that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas alone. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines .... come on men, surely we aren't that un-romantic?
As mentioned, Leap Years take on a particular significance ... it is the one day in four years that is accepted that women have the opportunity to propose to her man.
SelectionBox has picked out a few gifts for the men to demonstrate that they haven't lost all thoughts of romance.
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