FEEL THE LOVE

Kids love Valentine’s Day! The cards, the candy, the classroom parties… there’s so much about Valentine’s Day for a child to love! And, one of the things all kids look forward to is making a Valentine holder for all of the cards they will receive on the big day!

Since getting mail is a very exciting thing for a child, they are sure to love making a Valentine mailbox of their very own. This project can be as simple or as fancy as you choose, and either way, the kids will have a great time both making it, and collecting cards in it.

For each mailbox, the child will need a box, such as a shoe box. If shoe boxes are not available, a cereal box with the back panel cut out, or a cardboard quart-sized milk carton with one side cut out will also work perfectly. Each child will also need a large sheet of red, pink, white, or purple construction paper to make the top of the mailbox. Children can use markers, crayons, glitter, stickers, puffy paints, and heart-shaped cut-outs to decorate the construction paper. Once they have finished decorating it, the ends of the sheet of construction paper will each be attached to one side of the shoebox, so that the paper arches over the opening of the box. Children can then use heart shaped paper cut-outs to decorate the ends of the boxes, being sure to write their names on the ends so that friends can deliver their Valentines. Construction paper or cardboard can also be used to make a flag for the mailbox, which can be attached to the box with a metal fastener.

For fancier, more sturdy mailboxes, fun-foam or posterboard may be used in place of the construction paper. However, an adult will need to use a hot-glue gun or superglue to attach these materials to the boxes. Also, children may enjoy gluing heart shaped candies to their mailboxes for decoration. They might also enjoy copying the phrases from candy conversation hearts on to their mailboxes.

Another fun Valentine’s Day card holder for children to make will also use construction paper, fun-foam, or poster board. Children will need to cut out two large, identical heart shapes from the paper. Adults may want to help them draw the hearts, or provide a heart-shaped cardboard for children to trace. After cutting out the two hearts, children will need to cut off the top third of one of the hearts. The two hearts will then be stacked on top of each other. Beginning at the point of the hearts, use a hole-punch to punch holes about one-half inch from the edge of the paper, with each hole being about one-inch from the next. Holes should extend from the point of the hearts, up each side, stopping where the top of one heart was cut off. Beginning with the first hole on the left side, children will use ribbon or yarn to lace the two hearts together. The top of the hearts will be left open for cards to be placed into. After lacing the hearts together, children can decorate the card holder using stickers, markers, crayons, or glitter, being sure to include their name on the front of their project.

Children will also enjoy this very simple Valentine card holder project. Each child will need a solid colored gift bag of any size. Pour red, white, pink, and purple paints onto small paper plates. Children will then dip heart shaped cookie cutters into the paints and press them onto the gift bags to decorate them. After they have finished painting, children can sprinkle the bags with glitter if they choose. If they want to decorate all sides of the bags, simply have them open the bags and stand them on a table to decorate the back and sides. Or, allow the front of the bag to dry before turning it over to decorate the back.

Another creative craft that children are sure to enjoy making will transform a cardboard oatmeal can into a Valentine card holder. Children will need a piece of pink or white felt that is large enough to cover the outside of the can. With the felt laid flat on a table, children will use the heart-shaped cookie cutters and paints, puffy paints, fabric markers, glitter, or felt cut-outs to decorate their piece of material. When the decorations have dried, the felt will be wrapped around the oatmeal can and glued into place. An adult will use a knife or sharp scissors to cut a hole in the top of the can for the cards.

Each of these projects will be enjoyed by children of all ages, and can be simplified or be more involved depending on the age of the children, the materials used, and the amount of adult assistance offered. While construction paper, stickers, and markers may be best for the youngest participants, older children may prefer using fun-foam, paints, and glitter to complete their projects. Regardless of the audience, everyone will have a great time, and will enjoy making their personalized Valentine card holder!

Simply the words “Valentine’s Day” can send cold chills or a shudder down the spine of someone who never knows what to do for their significant other. Often, people run to the supermarket at the last minute, grab a card, sign it, and sheepishly hand it to the one they love. Of course, there are always those creative and romantic types who always seem to know just the right thing to do or say, leaving the rest of us feeling inadequate in our attempts at romance.

Romancing your sweetie on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be something you dread, however. It doesn’t even have to be expensive. Sure, you can go out and buy expensive jewelry or two dozen roses, but who says romance means spending big bucks? Being romantic involves showing your loved one how you really feel about him or her. You want to let your sweetheart know that there isn’t anyone else in the world for you.

How can you do that? There are numerous ways to let your love shine. You don’t have to be a poet to write a love note. Of course, there will be plenty of cards that already have sweet prose inside of them, but you can make your Valentine’s card much more personal by writing about the special things your mate does every day. You can also share a wonderful memory about the two of you that will forever stick in your mind and heart.

Some couples love to give coupons to each other that promise the receiver gifts such as taking over a hated chore for the month; giving a great foot, back, or complete body rub; going to the movie of their choice; cooking a special meal; and any other gift you want to write down. When you exchange your love coupons, the receiver knows that he or she can “cash in” on the coupon at any time.

Why not make a picture collage of your life together? Start out with pictures taken when you first met. You could place them in a frame or create a photo board of your own. You could even cut a large piece of cardboard in the shape of a heart and decorate it with pictures and other memorabilia, such as ticket stubs, menus from your favorite restaurant, and playbills.

Even if a baseball game or an opera production isn’t your cup of tea, surprise your mate with two tickets to his or her favorite event. Make sure you act just as excited about going, even if you aren’t!

Instead of one love letter, you can leave several love notes all over the house. If you really want to be adventurous, number the love notes in a sequence, and make sure they give clues to the next note. When your significant other finds the last note, have a surprise waiting, such as a bottle of wine, wrapped gift, or even you in something sexy!

If you know your partner loves a particular poet, surprise him or her with a collection of poetry from that particular writer. You could have pictures of yourself made unbeknownst to your partner, and then have the picture beautifully framed. Buy a box of his or her favorite candy, or make your sweetie a Valentine dessert.

No matter what you do for your Valentine, if you do it with love, you will make their day special. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, and you don’t have to be extremely talented or creative. All you need is a little motivation and a lot of love to make your sweetheart’s Valentine’s Day, a day he or she will never forget!

Valentine’s day is almost here and you want to do something special. The old flower, card,and candy trick is always appreciated but can get boring because it’s always expected. Letting your sweetheart know that you have gone the extra mile to make the day unforgettable can you really easy. Here are some ideas for adding a little extra delight and surprise on this special day.

If you live in a city or town that is surrounded by a major river or lake, a short cruise is sure to make your sweetie beam with joy. These types of cruises often consist of dinner cruises, where you board at sunset and have dinner aboard the boat with a live band playing in the background, or make reservations for a cabin and make this special day into a special weekend.These cruises are available in package deals to fit any type of budget. Check with your local yellow pages or tourism office to see what’s is available.

Another idea is to make reservations with a local bed and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts can be a little more private and intimate, and you can get that getting away feel without going far from home. Usually a bread and breakfast will provide suites or single bedrooms for the night and some meals for the customers, but also little extras like mints on the pillows, breakfasts in bed, or candlelight dinner for two upon request. The internet can provide a list as well as customer reviews on bed and breafasts in your area.

Of course, you can make this night special using a little creativity and a some knowledge of what your special someone likes. If she/he likes gourmet food, make reservations at a fancy restaurant and make reuest to meet the chef personally to thank him for a wonderful meal. If not busy, most chefs would be very flattered to meet with you. Ask the chef to give you a tour of the kitchen to meet the other staff, and maybe sample some of the dishes they are preparing. With a little preparation and forethought, he/she will appreciate the lengths you have gone through to make the evening special.

Or, if you know your way around the kitchen yourself, prepare all of her/his favorite dishes and serve them with candlelight and soft music.

Make the evening even more unforgettable by wearing something special just for him/her. This is sure to let your sweetie know that you were thinking of only them on this special day.

Planning a day of beauty or pampering for her/him will also show that you care. Contact a local day spa and make reservations for your loved one to have one or more services on that day. Ask if there are any discounts or package deals you can buy which are tailored just for that holiday. With services ranging from a simple manicure or pedicure to more luxurious pamperings like swiss massages and facials you should be able to provide her/him with a day they would never forget.

Valentine’s Day is usually considered either the most romantic holiday or the most commercialized holiday. Both sides make excellent points. But while the debate over the virtues and vices of Valentine’s Day continues, the average person’s feelings towards the holiday correlate directly with that person’s dating prospects; a dateless Valentine’s Day is traditionally a very depressing one. However, this does not need to be the case, and there are many funs things to on Valentine’s Day even if you do not have a date.

If you find yourself without a date on Valentine’s Day, take solace in the fact that you are not alone. There are many, many people who are likewise between relationships. If you have lots of friends who are also finding themselves dateless, you should consider throwing an anti-Valentine’s Day party. These can be especially beneficial for people who have recently broken up with someone. During these parties, you can watch relationship-gone-wrong movies (think “Fatal Attraction”) that make you glad to be single. And because everyone, whether or not they are in a relationship, loves Valentine’s Day chocolates, you should be sure to stock up on heart-shaped truffle assortments and chocolate roses. There is no reason not to open a bottle of champagne, either. Or, if you miss your childhood Valentine’s Days when nobody had or was even allowed to have dates, you could hand out Valentine’s cards and conversation hearts.

Despite what you may have heard, it is actually legal to go out on Valentine’s Day without a date. If you are feeling a little self-conscious over your lack of a significant other, going out with at least one friend is a good idea. Unless you are especially fond of crowds and long waits, you probably want to avoid restaurants. Although some clubs, bars, movie theaters, coffee shops, and other places of entertainment might be a little busier than normal, these are definitely still fine options. Additionally, some clubs and bars host anti-Valentine’s Day events, which are perfect if you are worried about feeling lonely.

If none of these ideas appeal to you and you are still set on having a romantic evening, there are many ways to arrange it at the last minute. If you choose to go out on Valentine’s Day, you will doubtlessly encounter other people who are just as sad about being single as you. If you meet and like one of these people, the two of you can discuss you dateless despair over a cup of coffee. Many people are eager to set their commitment-free friends up on Valentine’s dates. While a blind date is always risky business, this is still a good option in you are dead set on having a date. Even if the date turns into a disaster, at least you will have a good Valentine’s Day nightmare story.

With or without a date, Valentine’s Day is just another day. Celebrate it or don’t celebrate it; just don’t get depressed over it. There will always be time for perfectly romantic Valentine’s Days in the future.

ROMANCE LAYOUT

This layout has a striking high contrast, yet is elegant. It has a wonderful vintage feel to it. It looks very professional if done well.

You will need:

Black and White photo(s) featuring the lovers (roses are an excellent touch)

Black cardstock

Bright red cardstock

Bright red textured, hand-made paper or tissue

White cardstock

Adhesive– glue sticks or photo-mounting tape

Red photo oil color paints

Cotton swabs

Cotton balls

Toothpicks

Eraser

Decorative edge scissors

Valentine/Romance border punch

To keep this high contrast layout from becoming too cluttered, use only one or two very striking photos. If you have never used photo oil color paints before, have several copies of each photo on hand so that you can practice and perfect the simple technique. Choose just a few elements of the photo(s) that will be colored red, such as roses, the woman’s lips, a hat, the man’s tie, etc. Don’t choose too many or too large an area; just a few sporadic bursts of bright color will create visual interest without overpowering the black-and-white photograph.

Squirt a small amount of paint onto a paper plate or piece of wax paper. Dip your cotton swab into the paint and dab excess on a napkin once or twice. Carefully color the elements on the photo that you have decided will be red. If they are very small spaces, just wrap a bit of cotton around the tip of a toothpick. Do not over-blot the paint, or rub it until it begins fading; you want the color to jump out at you.

If you should go “outside the lines” with the paint, use the edge of a rubber eraser while it is still wet to clean the spot. Between eraser strokes, be sure to wipe the eraser clean on a napkin.

Once you are satisfied with the look of your photo, it aside to dry. When dry, create a white matte for each photo, using a decorative edged scissor with an elegant design. Mount the photo on the white matte with glue or tape. Then, place the matted photo onto the red hand-made or tissue paper. Measure the paper so that it is about a half inch larger than the white matte on all sides. Then, carefully, tear the edges of the paper to give a natural look. Mount the white matted photo onto the red matte with glue or tape.

Take the black cardstock. Around the entire perimeter of the cardstock, create a border with the border punch. Place the black cardstock over the bright red cardstock so that the red can be seen through the punched out border. Use tape or glue to affix the pages together.

Lay the matted photo(s) onto the black cardstock background and arrange them until satisfied with their placement. Affix them to the page. If you like, you can use fancy red letter stickers or die cuts to title your page, or you can add a white, decorative-edge tag for journaling (use bright red ink).

LOVE BUG

This is a great layout for featuring our youngest Valentines.

One enlarged photo of your child

2 sheets of (light to medium) pink cardstock

Black Cardstock

Red Cardstock

Green paper

Medium leaf shaped paper punch

Hole puncher

Ruler

Scissors or craft knife

Adhesive- glue stick or double-sided tape

A compass for measuring and drawing circles

Alphabet stickers or die cuts (red and white color scheme)

Flower die cuts or stickers

Cut the subject of your photo out in a large circle (5-8″ diameter for a 12X12 page). You can use the compass to draw a guide line first if it has a rubber tip. If your compass has a pinpoint end, it will damage your picture, so it may be best to use a small plate as a template to trace the guideline.

Take a sheet of pink cardstock. Using the compass, make a circle in the same diameter as the photo. Then, make another circle in the center of the first, approximately 1/4 inch smaller. Cut out both circles along the line and you will be left with a pink ring.

The next element you make will be large ladybug embellishments to decorate the ring like a wreath. To do this, take your black and red cardstock and your 2″ circle template. Make several circles on each color and cut them out.

Take the red circles and divide them in half vertically with a ruler and pencil. Then, turning the ruler horizontal and moving it up until it is just a 1/4 inch from the top, make another pencil mark. Cut along the top, horizontal line and discard the small clipping. Cut up the vertical line and save each half. These are the “wings.”

Place the black circles on the pink ring, separating them slightly. You can make them uniformly spaced, or make it a bit more random. Adhere the black circles to the pink ring with tape or glue. Then, take the two halves of a red circle (the wing) and place them over the black circle. You can arrange some with the wings slightly open, and others completely closed, varying on each ladybug. The ladybug’s face will be the place where the top of the red circle was clipped.

Take the black cardstock scraps and punch out a lot of little circles with your hole puncher. Use a glue stick to affix them to the ladybug’s wings to give it spots. Then, punch some leaves from green paper and glue them randomly around the ladybugs on the pink ring.

Set the ladybug wreath you have made directly onto the circle photograph to frame it and affix it with glue or tape. Then, paste the framed photo on the center of the second sheet of pink cardstock. Use the alphabet stickers or die cut letters to spell out the words, “Love Bug,” across the top of the page. Use the flower die cuts or stickers to embellish the corners of the page, grouping them in odd numbers.

LOVE STINKS! LAYOUT

No date this Valentine’s day? Sick of all the mushy romance scenes? Take photos on valentines day anyway and make an anti-romance page.

You will need:

Photos of you and your friend’s dateless Valentines day

Cardstock in your choice of colors for background and mattes

Heart die cuts, medium to large

Black “NO” symbol die cuts (circle with a slash through it)

Alphabet letter stickers or die cuts (Color of your choice)

Usual scrapbooking supplies (scissors, adhesives, etc)

Matte your photos on whatever colors you prefer, in your usual way. Arrange and mount them on the page.

Use the letter stickers or die cuts across the page to spell out anti-Valentine sayings, such as, “Love Stinks!” “Death To Cupid!” or, “The Anti-Valentine’s Day Party.”

Use the hearts with a big black “No” symbol placed over them to embellish the page.

Every Valentine’s Day, couples go out for a romantic dinner. Unfortunately, most restaurants are ridiculously busy on Valentine’s Day; even people who remember to make reservations ahead of time still have to fight crowds and put up with slower than usual service. If you want to avoid crowds and create a more unique experience, consider abandoning restaurants for the night and cooking your sweetheart a dinner at home. Not only will the dinner be perfectly private and probably a lot less expensive, but your significant other will also appreciate the work and thought you put into the meal. All you need are some romantic Valentine’s Day dinner menus.

Certain foods are believed to be aphrodisiacs, and these foods are ideal for Valentine’s Day dinner. Oysters, which are associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love, are supposed to increase amorous feelings. Oysters Rockefeller are very popular; if you are not a huge fan of oysters, you still might enjoy a seafood stew that contains oysters. Chocolate and asparagus are both famed aphrodisiac, too.

Aphrodisiacs are not the only way to set the right mood for Valentine’s Day. If you are not worried about serving something that is slightly messy, spaghetti and meatballs can be a highly romantic dish. Even if you do not think of the classic “Lady and the Tramp” scene, Italian food is still considered very romantic by most people.

You also might want to serve food that is usually reserved for special occasions, such as fillet mignon, lamb, truffles, and caviar. Serving these items will demonstrate that you do consider the night, and the person you are with, special. Additionally, although many of these items are not difficult to prepare, they are impressive to serve.

Valentine’s Day dinner can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. You could just serve one main course, perhaps the spaghetti with meatballs. Or, you could have a more formal dinner with several courses. Here, you might start with an appetizer (maybe caviar or Oysters Rockefeller), followed by a soup (such as fish stew). Then you could serve the main course, perhaps a nice fillet mignon or leg of lamb served with asparagus in truffle oil. Either way, be sure to serve plenty of wine with dinner. And dessert is not optional; definitely end the meal with something chocolaty like chocolate covered strawberries. Champagne should accompany the dessert, as well.

When you are planning your Valentine’s Day dinner menu, be sure to take your sweetheart’s tastes into account. If your significant other becomes nauseous at the sight of oysters and asparagus, then they will not be enjoyed and they will certainly not work as aphrodisiacs. On the other hand, if you prepare your sweetheart’s favorite dish, your work will be appreciated. Remember to set the proper mood for the meal as well. Dinner should be eaten at a small, cozy table. Some music should be playing, although it should not be so loud as to interfere with conversation. Light should be dim, preferably provided by a generous number of candles.

February 14 is Valentines Day, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all it’s many ideals. How a day for lovers came to be celebrated during the middle of February is an interesting and ages old story. The story of Valentines Day begins during the heyday of the Roman Empire, which held a festival every February. This Lupercian Festival was held in honor of the God of Fertility and during the festivities young men would get to choose their mate. At the time marriage was a common occurrence, but when Claudius became Emperor he changed all of that. Fearing that men would refuse their duty to fight because they would not want to leave their wives behind, he outlawed all marriages. Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples. When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death. While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailer’s daughter and soon had fallen in love with her. The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: ‘From Your Valentine’.

In 496 A.D. Christianity had taken over Rome and Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagen Lupercian Festival. Knowing it’s popularity, he looked to replace it with something more ‘appropriate’ and set aside a day in February to honor the martyr St. Valentine. Even though in 1969 the church removed St. Valentines Day from it’s calendar of ‘official’ holidays, it is still widely celebrated today.

Valentines Day is perhaps best known for its cards. This is a custom whose origins could stem from any number of places. One belief is that the tradition began when St. Valentine himself passed notes to the jailer’s daughter. Another story is that children used to pass notes to St. Valentine while he was in jail. He was so popular that even after his death the children still placed noted through the bars in his empty cell. A third story as to the origin of passing out cards stems from a French Count who was captured and imprisoned in London. From his cell he wrote his wife letters, including a passionate set of poems which he sent to her in February. However it truly started, Valentines Day cards are now sent at the rate of one billion a year, setting it just behind Christmas as the most popular card sending holiday. Valentines Day cards have been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. They became popular in the 1700’s as handmade cards made with satin and ribbon and lace among other fineries. By the early 1800’s, commercial valentines began to appear. Some were so ornate that they cost upwards of ten dollars. An amazing sum for those times. By the 1840’s cards were so intricate that some had moving parts. Up until the late 1800’s, all of the mass-produced Valentines Day cards were made in England and other European countries. In the early 1870’s a 19-year-old American woman named Esther Howland had the idea to begin producing commercial Valentines Day cards in America. She started out with three friends and her brother and in assembly line fashion began producing hand-crafted cards which were shipped around the country. By the end of the decade she was making over 100,000$ a year. At the turn of the century, a new form of Valentines Day card appeared the ‘Penny Dreadful’. Up until this point, cards were relatively expensive but the Penny Dreadful changed all that. They were just what the name implied, costing only one cent and completely bad. The cards were cheaply made, the artwork was amateurish and the coloring was uneven. On top of that the verses printed on them were not the most romantic of prose. They were more often ‘insults’, taking swipes at old maids, teachers and the like. Still their low cost kept them popular for years.

Like many holidays, Valentines Day is a day of symbols. Walking around in the first few weeks of February, you can’t turn a corner without seeing a red rose. The rose was sacred to Venus who is the Goddess of Love. Another popular symbol of the day are birds, particularly doves and lovebirds. These are two birds which mate for life and it was once believed that they choose their mate in the middle of February. Of course no Valentines Day would be complete without a multitude of hearts. It was once believed that the heart was the center of all emotion. People believed that when they gave a heart, they were truly giving all of the love and emotion that they possibly could give. In the Middle Ages men would pull a woman’s name out of a bowl. This would be the man’s Valentine. To show his devotion, the man would wear the paper containing the woman’s name on his sleeve for a week. This soon became known as ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’. And Valentines Day wouldn’t be the same without a visit from Cupid, the winged cherub with a bow and arrow which he uses to place people into love. The origins of Cupid can be traced back to the days of the Roman Empire. Cupid is a Roman God, the symbol of passionate love. (He is the son of Venus, who remember is the Goddess of Love.) Cupid fell madly and completely in love with Psyche, whom it happened was a mortal. This did not please Venus at all and she gave Psyche a particularly hard time, consistently tempting her and driving her off. Eventually, through a small series of human faults, Psyche was tempted to look into the ‘box of beauty’ and when she did, she unleashed a deep slumber onto herself. Cupid then came to Earth and searched the world for her. He found her in her deep sleep. His love for her was so strong though that he was able to take the sleep from her and place it back into the box. Then he used an arrow to pierce her heart and awaken her.

Besides giving cards, candy and kisses there are some other interesting customs (both current and past) associated with Valentines Day. For instance, in England children take to the street, singing songs and passing out cards. In Denmark people give out pressed white flowers as a sign of their affection. In the 1700’s, English women would write the names of men on small pieces of paper and then roll the paper up inside little balls of clay. They threw the balls into the water and the first paper that popped to the surface was the one with the name of the woman’s true love. A popular belief is that if a woman goes to a graveyard and runs around reciting a certain chant, she will see an image of her true love. A similar idea held over from years past is that on Valentines Day a woman is to sit by her window. The first available man that walks by is the one who is destined to marry her.

There is a dark footnote that must be added to the history of this special day. The date: Valentines Day 1929. The place: Chicago. The event: The St. Valentines Day Massacre. It is still not completely clear who all of the players were that were involved and what the exact motives were, but this much is know: seven men were viciously gunned down in a Chicago garage. The men who did the shooting were dressed as police officers and were members of Al Capone’s gang. The men who were shot were of a rival bootlegging operation. This was of course not the only gangland killing of the time, but it has grown to symbolize the mood and actions of Prohibition.

So as to not end on a dour note, a Bruskin-Golding study of the holiday discovered that 3% of all pet owners buy a Valentines Day gift for their pet.

THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day has become a special day marked by love. Like many other holidays steeped in time and tradition, there are varying accounts as to the historical roots of this celebration.

FEBRUARY 15th AND THE FEAST OF LUPERCALIS

During Roman times, a February 15th holiday known as “The Feast of Lupercalis” was celebrated to honor Faunus, a Roman pastoral god. By keeping with tradition, legend held that shepherds would guarantee themselves fertile fields, flocks and wives. During the day-long banquet, Roman men and women would draw partners by lottery, and shepherds would then court their prospective mate, all the while being blessed by Fauna.

It is believed that sometime during the 14th century, the pagan Feast of Lupercalis merged with a Christian celebration which honored two men (known as Saint Valentine) who had been killed because of their faith. The latter holiday or “Feast of Saint Valentine” was typically held February 14th. As time went on, a mythical patron of lovers emerged, known today as Saint Valentine.

BISHOP VALENTINE

Another version of the story contends that once the pagan holiday of Lupercus was forbidden, a man named Bishop Valentine began helping young lovers marry, against the wishes of the Emperor. Shortly before his execution, Valentine penned a love letter to a woman, signing his note “From Your Valentine.”

BUT WHO IS CUPID?

Cupid, the small, almost-childlike figure with wings and a bow and arrow that dons many Valentine cards is a figure taken from Greek mythology. Cupid is known as Aphrodite’s son, Eros, or the son of the Roman Goddess of love.

HISTORIAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Though the roots of Valentine’s Day are a bit mixed, most historians agree that we celebrate the popular February holiday because due to both Christian and Roman tradition. The Catholic church still recognizes three individual saints who bear the name “Valentine” or “Valentinus.”

EARLY CELEBRATIONS

Historians have marked the celebration of Valentine’s Day to several different time periods. During the 14th century, it was common to celebrate this holiday with loved ones and a large feast. In the 16th century, it appears the first gifts exchanged hands, with the passing of the paper valentine. A tiny card, usually handmade, was given anonymously to another. Great Britain began to celebrate Valentine’s Day around the 17th century, also passing anonymous cards to loved ones. During the 1800s, paper cards were replaced by much larger, hand-painted copperplates, often molded into the shape of a heart. In later years, the copperplates were replaced by woodcuts and carvings and lithographs.

By the middle of the 18th century, it became common tradition for all social classes to give small tokens of love or secretive, handwritten notes.

TODAY

Today, Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in all the world. Gifts stretch far beyond anonymous, handwritten letters in many countries. Today’s most popular Valentine gifts include chocolates, flowers, candies, jewelry and of course, greeting cards.

FACTS

IT IS believed that the “valentine” is the first ever greeting card.

THE FIRST mass-produced valentines were made in the 1840s by Esther Howland.

ONE BILLION valentine cards are sent each year.*

VALENTINE’S Day is the second largest card-sending and receiving day each year.*

VALENTINE’S Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally for lovers, but you can also use this holiday to show your sister or your mom how special they are to you. Here are some gift ideas on what you can give your sister for this holiday:

1. Dinner and a Movie - If your sister is single, she might appreciate a dinner out on the town with her favorite brother. Or, if you are both old movie buffs, why not rent some Laurel and Hardy movies, or some Little Rascal episodes, or “Gone With the Wind”? Then, invite her over for pizza and some movies!

2. Gift Cards Make Great Gifts - Your sister might also appreciate a gift card for her favorite store. Gift cards are easy to use, and they spend just like cash. You can usually get them in monetary increments from twenty dollars to over two thousand dollars.

You can also get gift cards that she can use like a Visa (TM) credit card so your sister can shop at any store she chooses

You can either wrap the gift card up separately or you can just slip it into a Valentine’s Day card.

3. Babysitting Services - If your sister is a single mom, then she probably could use a night out away from the kids. Offer to babysit her kids for one time, any night that she chooses. This gift could make a harried mom a little less stressed!

4. Change the Oil- Women aren’t normally as attentive to their vehicles as most men are. So, why not offer to change the oil in your sister’s vehicle? While you’re at it, you could check the rest of the fluid levels and top them off too!

Then, as a reminder to your sister, you could place a heart shaped sticky note on the dash to remind

her when the oil will need to be changed again.

5. Send Silk Flowers - Real flowers smell nice, but they wilt and die too soon. But, all women love to get flowers, especially on a holiday. So, why not skip the real thing and buy her a vase full of silk flowers instead? These fakes not only stay pretty for a long time, but they are also easy to clean off with a damp cloth.

And, now, here are some gift ideas for mom:

1. Family Picture - Mothers always love to display pictures of their families. If your mom’s copy of the family picture is a little outdated, then why not get your siblings together and have a new picture taken? With today’s technology, you can have a friend snap a picture with a digital camera. Then, print it out on your computer, and place it in an attractive frame! The cost will be minimal, but the joy it will bring your mother will be priceless!

2. Chores for a Day- Most mothers don’t like to ask their grown kids to do much for them. But, if they live by themselves on their own, there are probably plenty of chores to do around the house.

So, you can give your mom a coupon (that you made with your computer and printer) that tells her you’ll do chores for a day at her place as your gift to her!

3. Let Her Keep in Touch - Moms often have family members who are strung out clear across the United States. With the high cost of calling distance rising, your mother might not get the chance to keep in touch with her family as much as she would like.

If this describes your mom, you can get her a prepaid phone card. These cards are sold in a variety of increments, and they can be easily used just like cash!

Valentine’s Day is coming and you’re wrestling with what to get your wife. You want something as special as your feelings for her, yet as tangible as the ring you placed on her finger when you were married. Following are some gift ideas any wife would love.

1. Private retreat. If your wife is like most, she would appreciate some extra time spent alone with you, especially if she’s also a mom and has had little personal time for herself lately. Why not consider splurging for a weekend away. Can’t afford that this year? Then consider hiring a baby sitter and spending the weekend all alone doing some of your favorite activities. Little things mean a lot, by taking the step to spend more time with your wife, you will give the greatest gift any wife would love — her husband.

2. Spa special. Any wife would appreciate being pampered with a trip to her favorite hair salon. Throw in a manicure and pedicure, and enjoy watching her twirl in delight as she shows off the results. One great spa special is a make-over, including a facial and image consultation to help your wife choose colors that would flatter her most. Many larger departments stores have ongoing and special make-overs for free with or without a make-up purchase. Stop by your local store and ask whether they offer gift certificates. If they do, don’t forget to add enough cash to the certificate so that she can purchase some of the new make-up she tries. Warning: If you wife does not wear makeup often, this may nto be the gift for her.

3. Sparkling gems. Consider buying your wife a piece of jewelry to replace something she has always wanted, or desperately need. Earrings (make sure you check to see if she prefers clipped or pierced), watches, necklaces, pendants may fall in this category. Based on your budget, you can choose from precious, semi-precious or custom jewelry in styles and designs that flatter you wife’s personality and unique image. One idea, could be to replace a stone that she has lost from a favorite piece of jewelry, bringing new life to an old favorite.

4. Perfect picture. Surprise your wife with a new family portrait. There are two ways you can do this. The first is to get a professional portrait with just yourself, and if you have them, your children. The second, is to set an appointment that includes your wife post-spa special. In the latter, the portrait will remind her of the special spa treatment you gave her this year.

5. Money, honey. Your wife will love money as a valentine’s gift. The pitfalls of this, however, is that she may consider it a “no-brainer” gift that you gave her as an afterthought. Or worse, she’ll take the money and run and spend it on you and the kids. The alternative? Give her a gift certificate, gift card, or e-certificate (online gift certificate) to one of her favorite stores. This could include a store that sells clothing, perfume, jewelry, handbags, shoes or any other things for women only! Put a deadline on it (say 30 days), and that’ll force her to think and buy quickly.