How many valentines day cards are sent

Actually, no. In what country is Valentine's Day a public holiday? How much does the average person spend on Valentine's Day? That's according to a survey from Compare Cards, which polled over 1, in the U.

What is the most popular Valentine's Day symbol? What is the oldest valentine still in existence today? The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Why is Valentine's celebrated on February 14? What should I do for my boyfriend on Valentines Day? Whether you live together or not, you can make a night in very special. Set a romantic scene. Movie night in. Make art together. Create a grand entrance. Give him a spa treatment. Music and dancing. Plan an outdoor adventure. Take him out of town. Many legends have been recorded about the latter St Valentine, but these are most likely apocryphal.

However, while this fanciful story is compelling, it is unlikely to be true. This reference can be found in the lines:. Not everyone agrees that Chaucer was referring to 14 February here, however. Some have argued that he was instead talking of May time, when birds are more likely to mate in England. This coincides with the feast of St Valentine of Genoa, which also falls in May.

In 15th-century France, 14 February became an annual feast day celebrating romantic love. Lavish banquets with singing and dancing were held to mark the occasion.

While imprisoned in the Tower of London following the battle of Agincourt , the Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife:. These lines, found in a collection of nursery rhymes printed in , read:. This featured the lines:.

Initially these were handmade efforts, as pre-made cards were not yet available. Lovers would decorate paper with romantic symbols including flowers and love knots, often including puzzles and lines of poetry. Those who were less inspired could buy volumes that offered guidance on selecting the appropriate words and images to woo their lover. These cards were then slipped secretly under a door, or tied to a door-knocker. It was in Georgian Britain that pre-printed cards first began to appear, though these were not yet as popular as they were eventually to become.

Perhaps the oldest surviving example dates from this card, held at York Castle Museum, was sent by one Catherine Mossday to a Mr Brown of London. Accessed October 25, 2. But the truth is, Valentines Day was once all about the card. Recommended Reading. The History of Christmas. James Hardy January 20, The Great Irish Potato Famine. Guest Contribution October 31, James Hardy January 24, The Ultimate History and Future of Shaving.

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