The origins of Valentine’s Day are murky. February, however, has valentines day gift ideas 2021 been associated with romance, a month thought to mark the beginning of the mating season for birds. One legend involves Valentinus, a theologian and teacher. During the third century, Valentinus was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs and sentenced to death.
While jailed, according to Roman legend, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. His sentence was carried out the next day, Feb. Hundreds of years later in fifth century Rome, people honored Juno, the pagan goddess of love and marriage, on Feb. During the celebration, men would draw women’s names and court them for marriage. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration. Valentine’s Day is always observed on February 14. Hallmark first offered Valentine’s Day cards in 1913 and began producing them in 1916.
In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark and Italy. Valentines pre-date Hallmark and were among the first types of cards the company offered. A fire in 1915 that destroyed the company’s inventory of Valentine postcards led to the purchase of printing equipment so Hall Bros. The decade may have roared, but the invitation to join this lass on the loveseat was shy and sweetly coy. The color on this and other Hallmark cards through the 1920s and 1930s was applied by hand, until lithography made color printing feasible. Rub-a-dub-dub, what’s that in the tub?
It’s a washboard, common in households before washing machines were widely available. Even with patched pants, love prevailed in this Depression-days Valentine. Valentine from a wife to her husband. Hallmark card intended for a loved one serving in the Korean war. Smoking was cool until the Surgeon General’s office issued its warning in the mid-1960s. No cautionary message about hairstyles of the day, however.