Culture
Valentine's Day – holiday history:
In many countries around the world, for more than 1,500 years, the most romantic holiday, Valentine's Day, has been celebrated by people in love on February 14.
It is noteworthy that this holiday is celebrated during the cold season, as if with its love it should melt the winter cold and warm people with warmth.
On this day, it is customary for lovers to give each other “valentines” – a symbol of this wonderful holiday, as well as exchange compliments, confess their love, give each other gifts, flowers and show signs of attention in every possible way.
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The history of this holiday is quite ancient. There are many different legends about the holy martyr Valentine, including the most incredible and most romantic legend about the incredible power of love.
In 269, Emperor Claudius ll issued a complete ban on the marriage of all legionaries, believing that first of all, a married husband would take care of his family, and not about the real good of the empire and military duties.
At that time, while still an ordinary priest, Saint Valentine could not remain indifferent. He was very sympathetic to everyone in love.
Secretly, he began to help legionaries come up with beautiful messages for their second half, and also began to secretly marry them. Upon hearing this, the evil emperor ordered the priest to be thrown into prison and immediately ordered his death penalty.
According to an ancient legend, poor Valentine fell in love with the prison guard's blind daughter. But a priest who once took a vow of celibacy could not reciprocate the feelings of the unhappy girl.
However, on the night of February 13, before his execution, he did write a love confession to the jailer's daughter, which she was only able to read after he was executed.
According to legend, as soon as the letter was read, the girl could see. It is believed that it was after this last Valentine's letter that the tradition of writing “valentines” began.
Valentine's Day – holiday traditions
Traditionally, on this day it is customary to give your soul mate a small “valentine” – a cute, beautifully decorated heart made of thick paper.
And first of all, handmade valentines are appreciated. In some countries, such cute gifts are given not only to lovers, but also to all people they know.
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Another tradition involves the obligatory donation of flowers. A rose is considered a flower that is considered a symbol of love. This is what men all over the world give to their women. In Russia, it is customary to give flowers of any kind, not just roses.
In addition to flowers, young people give beautiful boxes of heart-shaped sweets. It can be chocolates, pastries or any delicious candy.
In some countries, in addition to valentines, it is customary to give linen and lottery tickets, as well as pink yogurt and heart-shaped sausage. People give each other unforgettable romantic trips and different trips.
Some people make wooden spoons decorated with keys and hearts by hand. Such spoons signal that the way to this heart has already been found.
On Valentine's Day, it is very popular in many countries to sing under the serenade windows. Moreover, the longer the love song, the better.
In the UK, young girls go to the window early in the morning on February 14. According to legend, the first man who walked under the window is her betrothed.
What is customary to give on Valentine's Day
This holiday has become popular in our country relatively recently. People in love give each other not only “valentines” but also other equally pleasant gifts.
Women present practical things to their faithful as gifts. These can be different clothing accessories, personal care products, cosmetic kits. Men – jewelry, flowers and candy.
Lovers arrange romantic dinners for each other, at which they confess their sincere feelings to their partners and propose marriage.
This day will be a salvation for very modest and shy people. After all, it will help them talk about their feelings, which they may have hidden for a very long time because of their excessive shyness.
Today, the holiday has taken root so firmly that it has become customary to congratulate and give gifts not only to your soul mates, but also to all family members. After all, this way you can express your love for parents, children, and close friends.
When we give gifts to our loved ones, it doesn't matter how much money they cost, the main thing is that they are presented with love and from the bottom of our hearts. And Valentine's Day will help us best express our feelings.
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There are gifts that are strongly discouraged from giving on February 14.
1. These are various sharp objects, they will lead to the accumulation of unnecessary negative energy.
2. You can't give slippers and watches. The former are to illness, and the latter to a quarrel or, perhaps, even to separation.
3. A mirror because it can cause trouble.
4. It is not recommended to give alcohol, due to the fact that it can take away your health.
5. Men's underwear – it is generally believed that this is treason.
6. Pearl jewelry is a symbol of the tears of orphans and widows.
How to spend Valentine's Day
1. On this holiday, you can come up with different surprises. If you become a magician for a single day for your soulmate and learn about her cherished desire, then on Valentine's Day you can fulfill her wish in a very original way.
For example, print an image of the intended gift on paper, cut it into many pieces and hide it in different pockets of a loved one. Once he has completed this task, you can safely present him with your cherished gift.
2. You can have an evening of memories. Sit back, pour a glass of something delicious, like hot chocolate or a nice glass of wine, and check out your photos together with your loved one.
Stop the time for a moment, remember your happiest moments, relive them, it's so beautiful and romantic.
3. Have an adventure together. Get an extra boost of energy and lots of positive emotions.
It can be any entertainment, or some kind of sport or a trip to the mountains, as long as you are together and enjoy this time together.
4. We could have a day of doing nothing. Moreover, this is just a dream for those who are constantly busy with something or spend all their time at work.
Be lazy together all day and don't do anything. Lay in bed in the morning, basking in warm blankets, pillows and in each other's arms.
Then, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and spend the rest of the day watching your favorite movies or reading books. The main thing is to spend this day together, do nothing and do not hurry anywhere.
5. Arrange a photo shoot. Celebrate this day for a long time. Choose a photographer, choose beautiful clothes and equally beautiful accessories that will make your shoot vivid and memorable.
Let the shooting location be your favorite place, the one where you often visit alone. Let it be absolutely any place, as long as it is memorable and expensive for both of you.
6. Arrange a quest for each other. Let it be completely romantic. To do this, buy beautiful valentines or other surprises in advance, hide them somewhere in the apartment or even outside, where you plan to spend the festive evening.
In the morning, you can give your loved one an easy hint as to where your first surprise lies. With him, immediately hide the clue to the second surprise.
And so on until your very last secret gift. Create hints so that they are very personal. Believe me, the emotions your partner will experience will be incredible.
7. Would you like to touch something beautiful? To do this, you can choose one of the romantic performances, a play, a photo exhibition or any classical concert. You can make a real surprise and not reveal the secret of where you're going until the very last moment.
Instead of the usual tickets, you can give an “excerpt” of a future event: a scene from an upcoming performance or a postcard from the exhibition.
8. You can visit a museum you may have been going to for a very long time. That's not a reason to spend this day together. It may not be quite romantic, but this holiday will be only yours and understandable only for the two of you.
9. Enjoy an already classic romantic candlelight dinner with a bottle of wine. What could be better when a couple gets closer and relaxes in their familiar home environment. And a dinner cooked together helps to unite and spend more time together.
This holiday format is most suitable for young couples who have been together not very long ago and have not had time to get enough of each other yet, but want to spend the evening together in a quiet quiet environment.
It is better to diversify the menu on this day and cook something that is not prepared on a normal day.
10. Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Go somewhere, no matter where, but be sure to go together. It can be a very short trip outside the city or vice versa, a global trip abroad.
You can simply go to any hotel or small boarding house. The main thing is that the two of you are everywhere alone on this day and enjoy each other's company.
Whatever you come up with on this wonderful, romantic holiday, remember that the most important thing is to feel it.
Whoever you spend this significant day with, it is important to have a loved one by your side who can remind us at any moment that love is with us all the time, every a second of our lives.