Our present-day Valentine’s are very much different from those commemorated years ago. To start with, the day was practically unknown in many countries where the holiday is celebrated today. For instance, in Poland just few years ago the day 14 February was a typical day just as many others. Today, however, it is known by everyone in the country, even the elderly. Valentine’s day in its commercial form spread to Europe from the United States. However, in Britain the day was commemorated long before. Then, love was honoured on 14 February in other countries, too.
Sending Valentine cards was know hundreds of years ago. As long as in the eighteenth century, there were special kinds of cards produced for those who did not know who to express their feelings. These cards, though very limited in number, called ‘mechanical cards’ had sentimental verses already written on them so that the only thing the ‘author’ had to do was to pick an appropriate card, sign it and send it to his or her lover. The practice of mailing Valentine cards was made easier in Britain after a reduction in postal rates. Sending cards was simply cheaper and that is why, became much more popular. Since the time, is has also become common to send anonymous cards, what made the day even more thrilling as people waited for such cards hoping that somewhere out there was someone in love with us. In the past, Valentine cards were much more appreciated than the one we receive today. The present-day cards are mass-produced in factories and printed on plain paper with hackneyed poems. Before, it was different. Valentine cards in the early nineteenth century were hand-made, fancy, with real ribbons or made of real lace. And when a person got such card, she knows and even felt the affection of the other person. Apart from few ‘mechanical cards’, which were not so popular in these days, the valentine cards in the past were hand-written with gorgeous poems invented on the spur of the moment and especially for the person to whom the card was sent.
What is worth mentioning is the fact that hundreds of years ago the day was strictly narrowed down to celebrating love and affection. There was no such thing like mass-produced gifts with red hearts of red roses. The was nothing there of today’s commercial part of the holiday. Today we quite expect some gifts, flower or even a card from our beloved. It is like a duty to do one of these things on that day, and that is why, the day has somehow lost its magic. People in, lets say, Victorian ages, had the great chance to celebrate the day with due respect. It was treated seriously and giving a card was nothing of an obligation but the real pleasure.