Valentine’s Day Postcards
It is February, and you know what that means: it’s time for my favourite holiday- Valentine’s Day! I know that some people- OK a lot of people- hate Valentine’s Day, but I’ve never really been able to figure out why. It has recently come to my attention though, in a conversation on Instagram, that in many countries around the world, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that strictly celebrates only romantic love. Well, of course that is how it started off back when the Victorians “invented” the holiday. Originally Valentine’s day was a feast day honouring St. Valentinus- and there are many different legends of why that came to be (who really knows?) However, over time it originated into a holiday celebrating love, where couples would exchange hearts, flowers, confectionery and love letters or “valentines”. By the time the 19th century came about, the Victorians, who were were obsessed with everything to do with romance and courtship, helped to turn it into the holiday we recognize today- where St. Valentinus is quite forgotten, but hearts and flowers and chocolates abound!
Even though the holiday was originally a celebration of only romantic love, over time, in Canada (and the USA I think too) it has turned into a day to celebrate all forms of love. When I was in elementary school, we always brought valentines to exchange with our classmates, and often had a party too. (Because really, who doesn’t want an excuse to eat pink heart shaped cookies and cakes?!) Nowadays, I hear the term “Galentines Day” circulating around, which has gotten fairly popular in the last few years; the idea being spending the day with your best girl friends instead of focusing on only romantic love. Even if you don’t have an opportunity for romance in your life right now, (I don’t) that’s no reason to dismiss Valentine’s Day as “Single’s Awareness Day”. Yes, romantic love is a beautiful thing, but having a holiday to celebrate all different kinds of love is a very nice idea too, I think. There are so many different kinds of love in the world, such as agape which is the love of man for God, and the love that God has for his children, eros or romantic love, philia, the beautiful love between friends, and storge which is familial love- just to name a few. Why should Valentine’s Day celebrate only eros, when there are so many more kinds of love in the world that are worth celebrating? I have always had that mindset about the day- and have always used it as a chance to send cards to friends and family and celebrate philia and storge love. Sometimes in past years, like with last year’s cards I’ve used the chance to highlight God’s agape love. And don’t forget that heart shaped cake too; which perhaps is an example of philautia- self love! 😉
Because Valentine’s Day is such a Victorian holiday, I usually make cards inspired by the era, so I thought I would show you all the cards I made and sent this year. Making and mailing valentines cards is such an old fashioned tradition, which is probably why it appeals to me so much 🙂
And, I also thought that since I can’t send all of you dear readers a Valentine of your own (I really wish I could!), it would be fun to share a Valentine’s card with you all in the form of a download! Just in case you haven’t gotten a card for someone special, but would like to give them one this year, I have a design I created a few years ago which is my Valentine’s Day card to you! I hope you enjoy it and I’d love to know if you decide to use it too!
So, is Valentine’s Day a strictly “romantic” holiday where you live? Or do you celebrate friends and family and all of the heart shaped things? And, do you make your own Valentine’s cards?
Click here to download my free Valentine’s Day Card!
February 11, 2017 @ 12:52 pm
Very interesting, you’re right that nowadays it’s associated with couples and that’s why so many people are “anti-Valentines”. We have a ‘Welsh Valentine’s Day’ here in Wales, called St Dwynwen’s Day. You can read about it here if you”re interested in specific country celebrations: http://www.visitwales.com/explore/traditions-history/st-dwynwens-day
xx
February 11, 2017 @ 1:18 pm
That is such an interesting history! Thanks for sharing that link Porcelina- I’d never heard of St. Dwynwen’s Day before. I hope you that you did have a happy St. Dwynwen’s Day, and that if you decide to celebrate Valentine’s Day it will be a good one too 🙂
February 11, 2017 @ 1:34 pm
That’s really cool that you make your own cards! A really fun way to celebrate what can be a very commercial holiday, and they’re absolutely beautiful.
February 13, 2017 @ 11:12 am
You are so right that it can be such a commercial holiday- where everyone just unnecessarily buys things! I always like to add a “handmade” touch to things 🙂
February 13, 2017 @ 9:09 pm
very nice Art-cards you create…cheers!
February 14, 2017 @ 11:50 am
Thanks Aure! I’m so glad you liked them 🙂
February 14, 2017 @ 10:06 pm
Beautiful cards, Nicole. I can’t say I make pretty cards. Usually I buy and give cards when it’s not expected.
Thank you for the lovely card. I do believe I can use it. 🙂
Yes, I think it’s more “romantic” than anything but that has been changing. I like Galentine’s. Where would we be without girlfriends.
February 15, 2017 @ 6:03 pm
Yes totally- where would we be without girlfriends! I’m so glad you are able to use the card I made 🙂 I don’t always make cards (just Valentine’s actually) and I love to send cards unexpectedly to people too! Hope you had a special Valentine’s Day!
February 27, 2017 @ 2:25 pm
Lovely cards, I always try to make my Valentine’s cards, some years they turn out better than others!
February 28, 2017 @ 11:55 am
Making Valentine’s is so fun- that’s great to hear that there are still a few of us around who do that. I think it’s the process that counts more than the final product. I’ve definitely had those years where they didn’t turn out as I had hoped- but they were still fun to make. 🙂