With my son coming up on his 3rd birthday, he is really starting to understand the concept of holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, he seems to get the basics of these events. So with Valentines day a stones throw away I have been thinking about how to explain it to him. What is this holiday about? Why do we celebrate it? What are the important parts, beyond hearts and chocolate, that I want him to take away from this time of year, and what are the traditions we want to create as a family?
This led me to some very interesting googling about the origins of Valentines day and it’s history that I was entirely oblivious to. Up until this point I had a vague standard story in my head of “St Valentine, martyr for something? Celebrated in February for who knows why, and somehow it evolved into the modern romantic version we know today, probably thanks to Hallmark. Oh and I like chocolate and flowers, fillet, and Jewelry if at all possible”…
As it turns out there are a lot of legends, myths and speculation about how Valentines day came into being. I recommend a few pieces that I really enjoyed reading, including this article from the History channel, as well as this summary, and this one that describe the various origin stories that are out there. If you have a few minutes go ahead a take a read, its ok….I’ll wait…..
Back? Ok so, as you can read the jury is still out on the exact origins of this day of adoration. From the Romans, to Chaucer to modern day Hallmark cards one thing is clear, the day is about professing your love for someone, or many someone’s (family and friends in modern times), that you hold dear. Traditionally these renderings of eloquent testaments of adoration are made in hand made cards, adorned with tokens and symbols of love and intimacy (i.e. hearts, lace, and icons of love like Cupid, who apparently is NOT a small cherubim but a god of desire…lost in translation much??)
The Woman Who Sparked a Tradition
Anyway, I digress slightly, the really interesting tidbit that I want to share, the “tea” if you will, is that it was not Hallmark in fact who set the American commercial Valentines day card in motion but an intrepid female entrepreneur/ creative/artist, who saw a need for beautifully hand made cards and rose to the challenge.
Esther Howland published the first American Valentine’s Day Card in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1849 for a whopping $5 each… adjusted for inflation that would be around $205 today, more that the average spend on valentines day of around ~$194 in 2023. She would create the prototypes, and a factory of young women (mostly her friends) would then assemble the finished product. Here are a few examples of their work:
She was not the first to see a mass need for helping young lovers unburden the hearts of their deepest affections. As far back as the late 1790s some entrepreneurial souls started to print books with scripts to help young lovers craft their professions of love including the “The Young Man’s Valentine writer” and the “The Lady’s Valentine Writer.”
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But unequivocally Ms. E. Howland changed the actual game for Valentines day making beautiful hand make cards accessible on a massive scale. So this year in her honor I’m crafting all of my Valentines by hand! Here is a quick list of what you will to join me in this endeavor…
DIY: Create Your Own Traditional Valentine Card
What You’ll Need:
- Cardstock or heavy paper in your favorite color (think soft pinks, classic reds, or vintage cream)
- Scissors and a craft knife for precise cutting
- Lace or doilies for that delicate, historical touch
- Images of Love: Hearts, Lovers, Romance, Birds, Cupid, etc,
- Glue or double-sided tape
- Stamps or stencils for adding vintage designs (optional)
- A fine-tip pen for writing your heartfelt message
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Fold and Base: Start with a piece of cardstock, folding it in half to form your card’s base.
- Design Elements: Cut out a heart or any shape that speaks to you. Use lace or a doily to overlay onto your design—this echoes the intricate details of classic design!
- Embellish: If you’re feeling extra creative, stamp or stencil a pattern around the edges, giving your card a touch of vintage flair… IF the idea of lace doily’s just curdles your blood try a more modern Washi tape take on the idea.
- Message Time: Write your personalized message on the inside. Whether it’s a classic “Be Mine” or something uniquely yours, let your words shine.
- Finishing Touch: Let your card dry completely before adding any final embellishments, ensuring every detail is set in place.
Keep the Tradition Alive
Coming full circle, I think that the element of this I want to carry forward and teach my son is more around how important it is to spread love in this world! There is so much opportunity for frustration, anger, and vitriol, and not nearly enough opportunity where we are encourage to blatantly, vulnerably, and openly express feelings of love! I think slowing down and taking a moment to craft and express our love is an act of beautiful strength and joy that can only bring us closer together! So from me to you Happy Valentine’s Day, and here’s to keeping love and creativity alive!
Oh, I loved this post! I’ve been making homemade valentines for years. I try to come up with a new design/theme each year and send them to all my loved ones. It’s a fun tradition I really enjoy – a labor of love!
I learned a lot of history, which I love, and you have inspired me to try something new!
Love this post!
Wow, I didn’t know all this history! I enjoyed reading the articles. I think making your own cards helps you to take time to reflect on the person you are sending it to and to feel grateful for them.