The Universal Day of Love
Whether you love or hate Valentines day, the holiday pops up every year and fills the drug store shelves with red and pink foil-wrapped chocolates and meaningful greeting cards.
We are used to all of this fan fair in today’s world, however the holiday actually has a tumultuous history…
It has been suggested that the holiday has origins with the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February around 500 AD. Fertility rituals and blind dating were common aspects of the festival which celebrated the coming of Spring.
Have you ever noticed doves or other types of birds on your Valentines Day cards? Another theory surrounding the origins of Valentines Day include it coinciding with the avian mating season, which begins mid-February.
The first commercial Valentine Day cards in the United States were printed in the 1850’s. Valentines commonly depicts Cupid, along with hearts, flowers, and love poems. In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. He was known for shooting arrows at both gods and humans, causing them to fall instantly in love with one another.
Check out this Valentines Day Card from 1910 depicting Cupid.
In the more modern sense, Valentines Day can mean whatever you want it to mean! Most people are ditching historical traditions nowadays, so the day can really celebrate any type of relationship.
You can skip out on the celebrations completely, or decide to buy yourself some chocolate and binge watch a rom-com! Another idea is to grab your closest friends and host a “Galentines Day” brunch to celebrate your friendships.
Whether it is your friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors, I encourage you to express your love and appreciation for the people in your life!
Design Works International was inspired by this modern Valentines Day sensibility and have created artwork to suit any need you may have.
