14th Feb Valentine's Day: How to Celebrate Valentine's Day and Gift Ideas

What is Valentine’s Day: How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day and Gift Ideas to Celebrate

Valentine’s Day is a special day that is celebrated on February 14th every year around the world by millions of people.

Simply put, Valentine’s day is a day for loved-up couples to express their love for each other and celebrate their relationship.

Whether you are in a new relationship or have been together for many years, there are many different ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

You don’t need a partner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Below are some suggestions on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

What is Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is a day celebrated on February 14th every year.

It is typically celebrated by the exchange of gifts such as flowers and chocolates, or by romantic gestures such as candlelight dinners.

There are a number of unconfirmed stories of how Valentine’s Day came about, including:

Valentine’s day is said to be originated in ancient Roman times. It is named after Saint Valentine, a martyr – a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs, (had to look up the meaning) for secretly marrying couples at a time during which marriage was prohibited.

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

When did Valentine’s Day start?

Valentine’s Day has evolved over the centuries to what we know today. It is said to have been first celebrated during the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held in mid-February.

The Lupercalia festival was a time for the Romans to celebrate fertility and the coming of spring.

The story has been told that, as part of the celebrations, young men would draw names of women from a jar, and would then be paired together for the duration of the festival.

Valentine’s day as we know it today, started to gain popularity in the 14th and 15th centuries, when it became a tradition for lovers to exchange handwritten notes, cards, and gifts.

The day continued to gain popularity throughout Europe and eventually spread to the United States in the 19th century.

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world as a day to express love and affection for each other and is celebrated on February 14th each year.

Symbols of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has several symbols that are associated with the day.

Some of the most famous symbols include:

Red Roses

Red roses are often seen as the ultimate symbol of love and passion, in particular for their red colour. They are a very popular choice on Valentine’s Day.

A post on the ABC mentioned that the Federal Department of Agriculture data showed 9.1 million roses were imported in the two weeks to Valentine’s Day in 2021 in Australia. A massive number after a shortage during Covid left a 30% decrease on the year before.

Heart Shapes

Heart shapes are another common symbol of Valentine’s Day.

They are found on almost everything around this time from cards to chocolates, and other gifts.

Cupid

Cupid is a prevalent symbol of Valentine’s Day. A Roman god of love that is perceived as a winged cherub with a bow and arrow.

In Greek, Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction, and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the war god Mars.

Lovebirds

Lovebirds are a symbol of romance and love. Meaning when two people are deeply in love with each other.

Lovebirds are often featured on gifts and cards around Valentine’s day.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a sweet treat that is often given as a gift on Valentine’s Day, as it is associated with love and romance.

Who wouldn’t want to receive chocolate?!

Gifts

Many people give gifts to their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, such as flowers, jewellery, and chocolates.

The average person celebrating Valentine’s Day spent $165 in 2021 as per Hallmark website.

Romantic Dinners

Many couples celebrate Valentine’s Day by going out for a romantic dinner at their favourite restaurant or opt to stay in for the night and cook a nice meal to celebrate.

Cards

Valentine’s Day cards are a traditional way to express love and affection.

According to Hallmark, Approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. Making Valentine’s Day the second-largest holiday for giving greetings cards after Christmas.

Overall, Valentine’s Day is all about expressing love and affection for each other, whether that is your spouse, friends, or family members. These symbols are used to represent the day and the emotions associated with it.

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

One popular way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by going out for a romantic dinner. This can be at a fancy restaurant or at a cozy spot that you both enjoy.

You can also cook a special meal at home together. You can make it fancy or simple, as the day is all about sharing your love for one another.

Another popular way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by giving gifts.

Valentine’s Day – Gifts

Some popular Valentine’s Day gift ideas include:

For example, you can give your loved one, a bouquet of their favorite flowers, a box of chocolates, a piece of jewelry, or a romantic weekend getaway to express your love for your special someone.

Homemade

You can also make a homemade gift.

Ideas could include, making a photo album of all your memories together, cooking a special dinner, or creating a homemade spa day at home.

Non-Materialistic

For those who prefer non-materialistic gifts, you could plan a surprise day out, a weekend getaway, or a fun adventure that you both can enjoy spending together. This could include, a hot air balloon ride, a trip to a theme park, or even a surprise picnic in a park or by the beach.

Spending Time Together

Another way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by spending quality time together. Whether it’s watching a movie, going for a walk, or playing your favourite board games. The most important thing is to enjoy each other’s company.

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day without a Loved One

If you don’t have a significant other to celebrate Valentine’s Day, there are still many things you can do to celebrate and make the most of the day.

Some ideas include:

Spending Time with Friends and Family

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just about romantic love. It is also a great day to show appreciation for the important people in your life.

You can plan a fun day at the beach or on a picnic with friends or family.

Treat Yourself

You don’t need a partner to buy you a special gift to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You can treat yourself and indulge.

Ideas include a spa day, buying yourself a new outfit or even a book you’ve been wanting to read, or making your favourite meal and dessert at home while watching your favourite movie or listening to music.

Volunteering

Valentine’s Day is a great day to give back to the community. You can volunteer at a local charity, hospital, or school and spread the love.

Take a Solo Trip

Use the opportunity to travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, and make some new memories while your at it.

Joining a Group or Club

If you’re looking for a way to meet new people, you can join a group or club that interests you, such as a walking group, book club, cooking class, or yoga class.

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day – Final Thoughts

Remember, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about romantic love, it’s also a great day to celebrate all the different forms of love in your life and to treat yourself with kindness.

Valentine’s Day is all about expressing love and appreciation for one another. Whether you choose to celebrate with a fancy dinner, a special gift, or simply by spending time together, the most important thing is to make the day special and memorable for the special people in your life, be that your spouse, friend, family member or a stranger by simply smiling at them and spreading love and joy.