Dating & Relationship Center

Every February Valentine’s Day is celebrated all around the world by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. So, now let us discuss about some common symbols and beliefs associated with this day of love and romance.

1.Heart
The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotions and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man’s truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Eros, known as cupid to the Romans.

2.Cupid
In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. His greatest pleasure was to make gods and humans alike to fall in love, which he accomplished by piercing their hearts with one of his gold-tipped arrows. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, its red color is thought to be the most romantic. It is said that Cupid caused the god Apollo to fall for the nymph Daphne, whose father turned her into a bay tree in order to protect her from the god’s advances.

3.From your valentine
Some scholars believe that during his stay in prison Valentine made friends with jailer’s blind daughter who at times brought to him notes and flowers from children. Whenever, possible Valentine also replied to the notes. Days before his execution, Valentine prayed for the jailer’s daughter and she regained her sight. Before his death, Valentine is also said to have written a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter and signed it “From Your Valentine”. This expression is popular even till date.

4.Valentine’s Day gifts
Like the fresh bouquets fashioned by the saint Valentines, anything symbolizing sweetness and beauty became an appropriate gift, making candy and flowers traditional favorites to this day.

5.Paper Valentines
Paper valentines differed from those of today in that most were printed without messages. Paper valentines became popular in the eighteenth century. Before commercial printers created the colorful heirlooms we now have from Victorian times, people created their own valentines from paper scraps. American colonist spent cold winter nights making paper cutouts featuring knot patterns and interlocking hearts. Special verses were written inside the interlocking paths of these “love knots.” Since the verse had no precise beginning or end, the recipient could begin reading the message starting at any line.

These are some common symbols and beliefs of Valentine’s Day.