Valentine’s Day Traditions in the UK

Valentine’s Day is traditionally associated with romantic gestures, the exchange of cards, and last-minute scrambles to buy flowers and chocolates for loved ones. Yet behind the familiar images of hearts and roses lies a tradition which stretches back to Victorian Britain. Celebrated each year on 14 February, Valentine’s Day has a history that is richer and more surprising than it first appears.

The legend of St Valentine

It is unclear exactly who St Valentine was. Some sources state that he was a Roman priest who was martyred around AD 270. Reportedly, he defied Emperor Claudius II by secretly marrying young couples at a time when marriage was forbidden for soldiers. Other reports suggest that he was the Bishop of Terni, in Italy, who was also martyred during the third century. It is possible that these two accounts may refer to the same person, as records from the period are limited and often contradictory. According to legend, St Valentine was imprisoned and fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, sending her a letter signed “from your Valentine”. He was martyred on 14 February, and in 496 AD Pope Gelasius I declared this date to be a feast day in Valentine’s honour.

A farewell to love

The oldest surviving Valentine’s message is thought to be a poem titled A Farewell to Love, written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife in 1415. It was penned while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. Although these stories may indicate the origins of Valentine’s Day, the practice of exchanging cards with loved ones only became popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. This was largely due to the increase in literacy, the improvement of printing processes and the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840.

Vinegar Valentines

Early Valentine’s cards were often handmade and decorative. Made from paper, lace, ribbon and fabric, they often featured pressed flowers, cut-out designs and handwritten verses. Lace paper, imported from Europe, became particularly popular during this time and added to the romantic feel of these handmade creations.

Not all Victorian Valentine’s cards were romantic though. A popular trend during the 19th and early 20th centuries was the sending of “vinegar Valentines”. These were cruel, insulting cards featuring illustrations and poems, which were sent anonymously to make fun of the recipient.

The language of love

Many of the motifs that we associate with Valentine’s Day were key elements of Victorian Valentines and carried great symbolism. For instance, hearts reflected the belief that emotions were linked with the heart rather than the mind. Doves symbolised devotion and lifelong partnership. Flowers conveyed a particularly strong meaning due to floriography, otherwise known as the language of flowers. Red roses symbolised deep love and passion while purple violets represented loyalty and modesty.

Today, an estimated 25 million Valentine’s cards are sent each year in the UK. It remains a symbolic date on our calendars, linking modern gestures of love with romantic traditions that stretch back through the centuries.