A Victorian Couple
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
Valentine’s Day is devoted to expressions of love and affection—and one of its most enduring traditions is the exchange of Valentine’s cards. But how did this custom begin?
The practice of sending messages of love on Valentine’s Day has surprisingly ancient roots. Some historians trace it back to Roman festivals in which young men drew the names of women from a jar and were paired together for the duration of the celebration—pairings that sometimes led to marriage. While far removed from the lace-trimmed cards we know today, these rituals laid early groundwork for the idea of romance tied to the season.
By the 18th century, Valentine’s Day had taken on a more familiar form. The first commercially produced Valentine cards appeared in England in the late 1700s. These early cards were often handmade or printed in small batches, decorated with ribbons, lace, and colorful illustrations, and accompanied by sentimental—or poetic—verses meant to be treasured.
The practice of sending messages of love on Valentine’s Day has surprisingly ancient roots. Some historians trace it back to Roman festivals in which young men drew the names of women from a jar and were paired together for the duration of the celebration—pairings that sometimes led to marriage. While far removed from the lace-trimmed cards we know today, these rituals laid early groundwork for the idea of romance tied to the season.
By the 18th century, Valentine’s Day had taken on a more familiar form. The first commercially produced Valentine cards appeared in England in the late 1700s. These early cards were often handmade or printed in small batches, decorated with ribbons, lace, and colorful illustrations, and accompanied by sentimental—or poetic—verses meant to be treasured.
Photo: Victorian Valentine from Kimberly's collection
The Victorian era ushered in a true Valentine’s Day boom. Advances in printing technology and expanding postal services made it possible to produce and deliver cards on a massive scale. A February 14, 1888 edition of The Grand Island Daily Independent of Grand Island, Nebraska, captured the scope of the phenomenon:
It is in England and America that St. Valentine’s Day is most observed, and on that day the postman’s labors are generally more than doubled by missives which have been sent as an outward sign. The skill and labor required in getting ready for market all those missives, which come under the general head of valentines, is far greater than the majority of people imagine. There are five or six large establishments in the United States whose sole business it is to prepare Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and Valentine’s Day cards, and they number among their paid list some 10,000 persons, ranging from packers and porters to the artists who design the often very beautiful pictures which adorn the cards.
The article went on to note how dramatically Valentine cards had evolved:
The valentine of a few years ago was a cheap and tawdry affair… From those silly and garish things has come a beautiful artistic sense, and it is now often mounted and prepared in sumptuous style.
By the late 19th century, the finest valentines were works of art—painted on satin or printed from lithographic plates, adorned with silk fringe, tiny bows of ribbon, or even silver and gold cord with tassels. Each card was carefully wrapped in soft cotton, placed in a box, and sent off to its proud recipient.
Though today’s Valentines may arrive by text message or email, the heart of the tradition remains unchanged. Whether lavish or simple, handwritten or printed, Valentine’s cards continue to serve the same purpose they have for centuries: a tangible reminder that someone, somewhere, is thinking of you.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
Kimberly Keagan is a former corporate financial writer (not very romantic) who now crafts historical romances filled with strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, faith, and a touch of humor. Her debut novel, Perfect, released in May 2025. Go to KimberlyKeagan.com and download her free Christmas novelette!
No comments:
Post a Comment