Valentine’s Day also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14 to honouring saint Valentinus
Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world. People celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family, and friends. Couples send Valentine’s Day cards and flowers and spend special time together to honour their love for each other
The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. In the 18th century England, Valentine’s Day evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards.
The custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines greetings are given to loved ones.
Valentine’s Day celebrations did not catch on in India until around 1992. It was spread due to the programs in commercial TV channels, such as MTV, dedicated radio programs, and love letter competitions
Symbols of Valentine’s Day are heart shapes, roses, and Cupid with his arrows.
Valentine’s Day cards were decorated with pictures of cupid (god of love), hearts and flowers and trimmed with lace and ribbon
Cupid means the god of love. He is represented as a winged boy with a bow and arrows, He is responsible for shooting arrows to make people fall in love with each other. The rose is the most popular flower in the world, speaks of love and has been the choice of lovers in every century
In recent times in India Valentine’s Day celebrated in a big way, Hotels and restaurants are fully booked to accommodate couples who are expressing and celebrating their love for each other. Post offices are filled with flower deliveries of flowers, packages and romantic letters.
Valentine’s Day is neither a public nor a private holiday in India But those who wish to enjoy the day take a personal holiday to celebrate with their partner.