“To love and be loved is the greatest gift of all.” A beautiful sentiment, and so very true. But at this time of year, that’s probably not going to cut it with your special someone! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to begin thinking about Valentine presents that will demonstrate your love and affection a bit more than those whispered sweet nothings! Whether it be a special card, chocolates, flowers or a gorgeous piece of jewelry, February 14th is definitely the day to go all out for your loved one.

Where It All Started

Illustration of Roman couple in front of the Colosseum.

How and when did Valentine’s Day get its start? Although it has been celebrated for centuries, its origins as a day of love are a bit of a mystery. There are plenty of theories though! Some trace the holiday’s beginnings to an ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia, which was celebrated in mid-February. This annual event featured a drawing where young bachelors of the city would pick the names of young, single women from an urn, and then become their companions for the rest of the year with the hope that the matches would result in marriage. With the rise of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, this “pagan” festival was eventually outlawed. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius essentially replaced it when he declared February 14th to be St. Valentine’s Day.

What’s in a Name?

Roman Catholic priest holding a cross

Just about everyone agrees that Valentine’s Day was named for Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, although exactly WHICH Saint Valentine is a matter of debate. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different martyred saints named Valentine or Valentinus. The most commonly accepted story is that Valentine was a third-century Roman priest living during the time of Emperor Claudius II. At that time, Claudius outlawed marriage for young men because he believed that single men made better soldiers that those with wives and families. Valentine rebelled against this unjust decree, and continued to secretly perform weddings for young Christian couples. He was eventually discovered, imprisoned and executed for this act of defiance in the name of love, and ultimately canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. The rest is…well, history!

Valentine Gift-Giving Traditions

Vintage Valentine card with angels holding a heart

Today of course, St. Valentine’s Day is all about love and romance, and one of the most popular traditions associated with this day is giving your loved one a token of your affection. Whether it’s a simple card or something more, Valentine presents are a way to express your feelings for that special someone. But it took awhile for this tradition to grow! Exchanging home-made cards with loving sentiments began as far back as the Middle Ages, an era known for its elevation of courtly love and romance through songs, poems and artwork. The Victorian age accelerated the custom of giving cards, and by the mid-19th century, the ability to mass produce paper greeting cards solidified this still-strong Valentine’s Day tradition. In fact, according to Hallmark, approximately 145 million Valentine’s cards are now exchanged each year!

The Special Gift of Jewelry

Valentine presents represented by heart-shaped jewelry pendant

So when did Valentine presents of jewelry come into the picture? Although lovers have exchanged gifts on Valentine’s Day down through the ages, the custom of giving jewelry didn’t really take hold until the 20th century. Retail industry observers credit the classic “A Diamond is Forever” marketing campaign – launched by the De Beers company in 1947 – with making diamonds THE gem for engagement rings. With Valentine’s Day being one of the most popular days for marriage proposals, a new tradition was born and the giving of jewelry on this day took off like a champagne cork!

Throughout the modern era, jewelry designers have outdone themselves in using precious metals and a wide array of beautiful gemstones to create unique jewelry gifts with lasting value. Today, everything from diamond rings to heart-shaped pendants are exchanged by couples on Valentine’s Day as a symbol of their love and commitment. In fact,  According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers are planning to spend a new record of more than $6.4 billion on jewelry for St. Valentine’s Day this year. The top gift categories for the holiday include:

  • Candy (57%)
  • Greeting Cards (40%)
  • Flowers (39%)
  • An Evening Out (32%)
  • Jewelry (22%)
  • Clothing (21%) and
  • Gift Cards (19%)

So whether you’re celebrating with a romantic partner or showing love to a friend or family member (or even a pet!), the wide range of unique Valentine presents available today ensures that you’ll have plenty of choices to make their day special!

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