Woman’s and man’s fingerprints combined to form multicoloured, stylised hearts Older people often say that Valentine’s Day once did not exist; others are appalled at “Americanization”. While the ones claim that the whole „theatre“ about it is pure kitsch, others go so far as to say that Valentine’s Day is nothing but pure commercialisation of love, kisses, embraces and tenderness - which all just by itself should be sufficient to show affection. They say that buying presents and spending money has become all that matters; money has taken the place of sincere expressions of love. But, isn’t it just in the times when consumerism and total commercialisation rule, in the time when all traditional values have been depreciated, necessary to remind in a subtle way that love is really what matters most? Maybe one can simply take a postcard, with tender feelings fix a stamp in the shape of heart on it and the nice message will thus be sealed by a kiss, just as the songs says. St. Valentine’s Day - in everyday speech best known as the day of those in love –is celebrated on February, 14th and glorifies and honours love and affection. Traditionally, it is a day when those in love show their love for each other giving each other flowers, sweets and - typically - postcards especially illustrated for the occasion and known in English speaking countries as „Valentines“. The holiday got its name after one of the first Christian martyrs and was for the first time proclaimed as holiday by Pope Gelasius I far back in 496. St. Valentine’s Day was for the first time brought in connection with romantic love in the Middle Ages, in circles close to Geoffrey Chaucer, in the period when in castles the art of love flourished and the art of courtship was cherished. Chaucer himself wrote in 1382 in the „Parlement of Foules“ – a poem dedicated to the first anniversary of the engagement of English King Richard II, the following verse: "For this was Saint Valentine’s Day; When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” In France, on the other side, in Paris, already in 1400 the High Court of Love was founded just on Valentine’s Day - a court which deliberated, argued and judged over „the disputes of heart“. According to some sources, one of the oldest preserved Valentine cards was written in 15th century just in that same romantic country - the first that we even today connect with love – by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife. In famous „Hamlet“ by William Shakespeare, from 1601, in the fifth scene of the fourth act, Ophelia - mad from love - sings in the eve of St. Valentine’s Day: „Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine“ One British publisher published in 1797 "The Young Man’s Valentine Writer" - a kind of manual, i.e. collection of sentimental verses intended for young man in love, still unskilled to compose verses of his own. In that period begins the production of already mentioned Valentine cards. Although it was a puritan and above all conservative period, also verses of explicit content were often sent after the mail service had made possible the anonymous sending of Valentines, as opposed to earlier messages sent by messengers and thus revealing the sender. The Valentines became so popular in England that already in the beginning of the19th century they were industrially fabricated. In most luxurious versions they were decorated by real lace and silk ribbons while paper lace started to be used only in the middle of the 19th century - at the time when for Valentine’s Day in Great Britain up to 25 million of Valentine Cards were sent! A very witty one, dated in 1850 – had a very direct message: „Weddings now are all the go; Will you marry me or no? “ And another one, from 1862 – addressed to a certain Miss. Jenny Lane from Norfolk, said: „My dearest Miss, I send thee a kiss“. To say the truth, in the 20th century St. Valentine’s Day turned to commercialism and exceeded spending so that the cards were no more sufficient to demonstrate love and satisfy the caprices of the ladies to whom they were aimed. In the 80-ies of the last century, apart from roses and boxes of sweets shaped in the form of heart and decorated by sateen ribbons, there became fashionable also boxes with far more precious and immensely dear contents: jewels. Canny manufacture and jewellery industry joined to participate in the game, and thus giving presents in gold and precious stones started. Though, still today, the cards are the most frequent way of expressing one’s affection on St. Valentine’s Day, so that it is esteemed that only in USA - in spite of Internet - about 200 million are sent every year, and - if also personally exchanged cards are taken into account, the number is even higher and reaches the impressive billion. However, all of you who have not been hit yet by the Cupid’s arrow and whom St. Valentine has not yet made happy, do not be desperate for being alone on the day which celebrates love. Valentine’s Day is also next year. S.M.
