Have you ever wondered how "special holidays" such as Valentine's Day came about?  Several legendary stories have explained the history of the character St. Valentine.  Valentine lived during the 3rd century in Rome.  He was known as a priest who ministered to Christians during a time when Christian churches were in persecution.

One story suggests that Valentine broke a law that prohibited young soldiers from marrying.  The Roman Emperor thought single men were better suited to be soldiers; therefore, he imposed a law.  Valentine performed underground marriages in spite of the law. He did not think the law was fair for couples who were in love and wanted to be married.

Another story proposes that Valentine was imprisoned for assisting Christians in escaping Roman prisons considered to be harsh.  A jailer's daughter visited him in prison and he fell in love with her.  Before he was killed, he wrote a love letter to her and signed it 'From your Valentine'.  That love action sent a wave of love stories (embellished or otherwise) down through the history books of legends.

Whichever part of either story is true, it was derived that Valentine's actions were synonymous for heroism, compassion, empathy, and romance.  However the traditions began, the memorializing and celebrations for Valentine's heroic courage evolved to exchanges of greeting cards that expressed lovers' feelings for each other.  Gradually, gift items were exchanged or given and included candy, chocolate, flowers, and gift baskets.  Valentine's Day even become a popular day for marriage proposals and wedding dates (especially when the day fell on a Saturday).

Valentine's Day Card SmashMaterials.com

Valentine's Day candy

Valentine's Day chocolate

Modern day Valentine gift basket DeBré Expressions Boutique

DeBré Expressions Boutique (D.E.B) has a variety of gift baskets similar to the picture on the left.  To see additional Valentine's Day and other gift baskets, browse Shop for Gift Baskets at D.E.B.

Want a chance to win your Sweetheart this Valentine's Day gift basket? Subscribe to the D.E.B ExPressIT Newsletter.   The winner will be selected on February 6, 2013.  Official D.E.B Contest Rules










Tell us how you ExPressIT?  Share with us the gift items you have given or will give your Sweetheart for Valentine's Day.  Post and publish your comments below:




Reference:
The History of Valentine's Day – History.com, A&E Television Networks. Retrieved January 1, 2012.