One of the most famous events in the year is Valentine’s Day. During this time, greeting cards decorated with symbols of love are often bought. We at the Fantasy Agency Escorts Birmingham have already sent our greetings cards and we send you this virtual card.
It is said that the feast of love has its origins in Ancient Rome. But the colourful papers that contain warm words addressed to the loved one when they first appeared?
It seems that the origin of Valentine’s Day dates back to antiquity, when the Romans celebrated Lupercalia on February 13-15, a small fertility festival. Regarding St. Valentine, it seems that there were two martyrs who had this name, who died in the name of Christianity in Ancient Rome: Valentin of Terni in 197 and Valentin of Rome in 496.
The legend says that St. Valentine, imprisoned, fell in love with the daughter of one of the guards. He would send a letter to the girl at the end of which he signed “from your Valentine” – that would be the first mention of this kind. A connection between the day of the lovers and a saint takes shape in 1382 when Geoffrey Chaucer writes the poem “Parlement of Foules” in honour of the couple Richard II and Anna de Bohemia.
In the fifteenth century France, the 14th of February becomes a celebration of love, celebrated annually. The first greeting, written on parchment, dates from 1415, just after the Battle of Agincourt. Being imprisoned in the Tower of London, the Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife: “Ma tres doulce Valentinée”. This letter is kept today in the British Library’s manuscript collection. Here is also the first love letter on Valentine’s Day in English, a letter dating back to 1477. This was sent by a certain Margery Brews to her fiancé, John Paston. In the letter, Margery describes her lover as her “beloved Valentin”.
In the seventeenth century, Valentine’s Day is mentioned in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, when Ophelia is given the replies: “To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day”. In the eighteenth century, one of the most famous love poems in the world is written. The lyrics were found in a book with children’s poems, printed in 1784.
The first Valentine’s greetings were sent in the 18th century, being hand-made. The lovers decorated the sheets of paper with various symbols of love and wrote a few rows to the loved one. Then they were left in the mailbox, squeezed under the door, or left under the rugs at the entrance.
In the Georgin Age of Great Britain, the first printed greeting cards appeared. The earliest copy dates from 1797 and is kept at the York Castle Museum. The card was sent by a woman named Catherine Mossday to Mr. Brown in London. The card was decorated with flowers and pictures of Cupid and had a few printed lines.
In the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution brought to Britain improvements in printing and manufacturing. That’s why making greetings for Valentine’s Day has become much easier, and in a short time, they have become extremely popular. It is estimated that in 1820, 200,000 such congratulations were circulated in London.
Since the Victorian era, many congratulations have survived, with over 1,700 copies being exhibited at the London Museum. The collection belonged to Jonathan King, the one who owned a small firm to produce such love letters. The existence of these copies demonstrates the diversity of templates, verses and colours that were used. Of course, the more complex the design, the more expensive it was. One thing to note is that in the Victorian era, the use of the well-known hearts symbols was almost nonexistent.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, St. Valentine’s crossed the Atlantic. They have become immediately popular in America, a place that has encouraged their spread by diversifying them, but also through low prices. In 1913, Hallmark Cards produced the first love greetings, which was an important step in the development of their commercialization over time.
Of course, not just the greeting cards you will give to your beloved person on the occasion of St. Valentine’s Day. Flowers, chocolate, good quality champagne, a dinner at the Birmingham restaurant are highly recommended. If you are at the beginning of the relationship and have met with her so far only a few times, avoid sentimental or too expensive gifts. If she is already your girlfriend, you can opt for a set of sexy lingerie, a watch, more luxurious cosmetics.
In case you did not have time to make a girlfriend, you still have the right to celebrate love with a beautiful girl. Fantasy Escorts Birmingham is here to help you spend the most romantic evening of St. Valentine in any city from West Midlands and East Midlands. Call our friendly receptionist and ask which girls are available this magical evening. In the shortest time, a sweetheart girl will arrive at your location to spend the best moments together.