How It All Began

Story by Melissa DeLoach

Ten thousand roses of all colors will be delivered by TCU Florist on Valentine’s Day, said Melissa Ward, an employee at the University Drive flower shop.

Ward said February is the florist’s busiest time of the year, followed by Mother’s Day. According to Hallmark’s holiday statistics, Valentine’s Day is the second largest holiday for sending greeting cards.

But this holiday of romance — when a dozen roses from the TCU Florist cost $79.95 — holds no historical significance other than coincidence.

Today, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes three martyred saints named Valentine or Valentinus. The earliest known tie to the holiday dates back to third century Rome.

During the reign of Emperor Claudius II, single men were banned from marrying because he thought they made better soldiers.

ccording to the History Channel Web site (www.historychannel.com), Valentine, a Roman priest, defied Claudius’ command and continued to perform marriages for young couples in secret. When Claudius discovered Valentine's actions, he ordered that the priest be executed.

The legend continues that while Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with the jailer’s blind daughter who visited him during his confinement. Before his death — around the year A.D. 270 — Valentine signed his farewell letter to the woman, “from your Valentine.”

However, the legend of St. Valentine is not the only influence on the modern holiday. During fifth-century Rome, the feast of Lupercalia attracted the love-struck youth. According to the History Channel’s Web site, all the young women put their names into a giant urn. The city’s eligible bachelors would then choose a name out of the urn and be paired for the year with the chosen women. Often, the matches ended in marriage.

But the “lottery” system for romantic pairing was outlawed around the year 498 when Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 St. Valentine’s Day. Romance would not have ties to the holiday again until the Middle Ages.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica online (www.britannica.com), present Valentine’s Day traditions date back to France and England in the Middle Ages. As mating season began, the site of coupling birds inspired people to write love letters and send signs of affection to one another.

The oldest known valentine was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans. According to Hallmark’s statistics, Charles wrote the poem to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The valentine, written in 1415, is now on display in the British Museum.

It is not until the 15th century, when the cherub Cupid — son of the Venus, the Greek goddess of beauty — began to be associated with the holiday.

But hand-made valentine exchanges did not become popular until the end of the 17th century. By the 18th century, the Penny Post brought the printed valentine within everyone’s reach. However, according to Hallmark’s statistics, because the payment was collected upon delivery some people began to send valentines as practical jokes.

The first American valentine would not be sold until 1849. Esther Howland began to mass-produce the hand-made cards selling at $5 to $35. At the end of the 18th century, sachets were even placed in the cards.

Today, the American Greeting Card Association estimates 1 billion valentine cards are sent each year. According to the association, women purchase 85 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards.

Jeff Burnett, store manager of Jamie’s Hallmark in Hulen Mall, agrees. In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, men have been Burnett’s frequent customer.

“More women came last week,” he said. “But women generally prepare more. People coming in the store now will (have a limited selection).”

Burnett said customers are buying traditional valentine items like cards, candy and stuffed animals. But the hottest item in the store has been the magnetic kissing bears advertised on television, he said.

“We have been out for three weeks,” Burnett said. “The bears sold like wild flowers. As far as I know every store in the (Dallas/Fort Worth area) is sold out.”

However, a more difficult task will be finding a florist to deliver, Ward said. TCU Florist hired six extra drivers to assist with 300 deliveries.

Ward said that although the florist will not be adding any more deliveries, there are plenty of options still available for everyone’s budget. For $35, customers can choose from two flower arrangements of various blooms, she said.

“We are very, very busy right now,” Ward said. “Roses may be the most popular, but we still have plenty of flowers like gerbera daisies and tulips, balloons and stuffed animals.”

And if all else fails, Sweethearts brand conversation hearts have been a favorite since1886. In fact, according to the manufacturer NECCO, 8 billion were made for Valentine’s Day this year.

Melissa DeLoach
m.d.deloach@student.tcu.edu