Valentine's Day: Meaning, Traditions and Gift Ideas

BLIVALE Blog 13 February 2024

Valentine's Day is an annual celebration held on February 14 in many countries around the world. In this article, we will explore the meaning of this holiday, the traditions associated with it and provide advice on gifts for her, for him and for both of you.

Meaning of Valentine's Day

The feast of Saint Valentine has ancient origins and is celebrated in honor of Saint Valentine, a martyr saint from the 3rd century. It is said that Saint Valentine was a Roman bishop who sacrificed his life to defend love and union between people. The holiday has become a symbol of romantic love and affection between partners.

Centuries ago, Valentine's Day was celebrated with more religious rituals, such as the prayer to find a soul mate or the blessing of lovers by the clergy.

Why is it celebrated?

The origins of Valentine's Day are a bit confusing. There are several stories that tell why this holiday is dedicated to love.

Story 1: A priest named Valentine performed weddings in secret for Roman soldiers who could not marry because the emperor had forbidden it. For this reason, he was sentenced to death.
Story 2: Valentino was a doctor who healed love-sick people.

Gift Ideas for Her

If you are looking for a special gift for her on Valentine's Day, here are some ideas that might surprise her:

A personalized jewel engraved with your anniversary
A romantic evening in a gourmet restaurant
A weekend in a luxury spa for a moment of relaxation together
Flowers: Red roses are a classic, but other flowers such as orchids or tulips are also beautiful.
Chocolates: a simple but always welcome gift.
Jewellery: a more demanding gift, but one that will surely make her happy.
A handwritten birthday card: a personalized gift that will show her how much you think of her.

Gift Ideas for Him

If you want to surprise your boyfriend with a unique gift for Valentine's Day, here are some suggestions that he might like:

A high-quality elegant watch or fashion accessory
Tickets to a game of your favorite sports team
An evening of whiskey or craft beer tasting
Chocolate: a classic gift that everyone likes.
A personalized gift: like a t-shirt with his name on it, a key ring with his initial, or an album with your photos together.
An experience: like a ticket to a concert or a football match, or a weekend away.
A handwritten birthday card: a personalized gift that will show him how much you mean him.

Gift Ideas for Both

For a gift you can enjoy together on Valentine's Day, you might consider:

A mini holiday in a romantic city
A professional photo session to immortalize your love
A cooking class or food and wine tasting to discover new passions together
A romantic candlelit dinner.
A weekend away in a romantic place.
A couples massage.

With these gift ideas and information on the meaning and traditions related to Valentine's Day, you will be ready to celebrate this special occasion with your partner in the best possible way.

Traditions of Valentine's Day around the world

Valentine's Day is celebrated in different ways around the world. Here are some of the most common traditions in the countries that celebrate this holiday:

Village	Capital	How to celebrate	Centuries ago
Italy	Rome	Exchange of gifts, greeting cards, flowers and chocolates. Romantic dinners.	Yes, it was a pagan holiday celebrating fertility.
France	Paris	Exchange of gifts, greeting cards, flowers and chocolates. Candle light dinner.	Yes, it was a pagan holiday celebrating fertility.
United States	Washington D.C.	Exchange of gifts, greeting cards, flowers and chocolates. Candle light dinner.	No, it was introduced in the 19th century.
Japan	Tokyo	Exchange of gifts, greeting cards, chocolate and flowers. Women give their lovers "giri choco" chocolate and men give "honmei choco" chocolate.	No, it was introduced in the 20th century.