Valentine’s Day is one of the most loved holidays after Christmas in the US and in Europe. Some people do not celebrate Valentine’s Day as they consider it not to be a part of their traditions which originated in the Catholic church. Others, on the contrary, are impatiently waiting for this romantic holiday to convey their feelings or even to go ahead with a marriage proposal. In any case, gifts for February 14th will put on a smile even on a skeptics’ face. This is of course under the condition that you choose what the other person would definitely enjoy.
If your loved one does not wish to celebrate the holiday, referring to its Catholic roots, or if relatives and friends refuse to accept gifts on this day, simply tell them that for more than 50 years now, neither Valentine’s Day nor even Valentine himself has anything to do with the Catholic Church.
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Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the same day every year, on February 14th, no matter the day of the week. The holiday is mostly non-national in countries all over the world.
According to the tale, it was on the 14th of February that St. Valentine was executed, secretly performing an engagement ceremony on lovers whose marriage could not happen due to circumstances. However, historians are sure that the beautiful legend has in fact nothing to do with reality.
The emergence of the holiday associated with love between two people dates back to the times of ancient Rome. The celebration was at the time called Lupercalia and had a purely rational nature, without even a hint of romance: on February 14th, men whipped women with leather belts, as it was believed that this ritual had a beneficial effect on female fertility.
With the emergence of Christianity, Lupercalia, like other pagan holidays, was replaced by a religious festivity. February 14th would fall on the day of the memory of St. Valentine, who presumably was the martyr who refused to betray Christ for which he got executed in 1260. The martyr was not associated with either fertility nor secret weddings, however, the two events gradually got merged into one, and in the era of the development of romantic literature in the XIV century, the date of February 14th became the day of lovers.
In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed the holiday from the calendar. Since then, Valentine’s Day has become a very well known social event. The holiday is still celebrated all over the world, even in some Muslim countries, for instance, in Iran and Pakistan.
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Americans have been celebrating Valentine’s Day since the 19th century, however, this day has gained widespread popularity, especially in schools amongst the nation, in the 20th century.
Up until today, Valentine’s Day remains a big celebration, in particular, for teenagers and young adults in schools and colleges. In elementary schools, children even bring their Valentine’s boxes from home and their classmates place their cards and letters in these boxes.
Valentine’s Day parties are being hosted across the nation on this day, often both in schools and at the workplace. The festive table is most likely to have heart-shaped cookies, red velvet cupcakes, and Conversation Hearts on February 14th.
These Conversation Hearts are the ultimate Valentine’s Day sweets in the US, forming part of this celebration’s traditions. The little candy hearts have cute messages such as “Kiss me”, “Be Kind”, “My baby” written on them, they are always served to make the atmosphere even more romantic and warm.
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Now, on February 14, it is customary for people to congratulate not only their partners but also their friends, parents, brothers, sisters and other relatives. Regardless of the relationship you are with the person, try not to make a mistake with your choice of the present by taking some tips below into account:
On this day, get yourself a gift for your sense of peace of mind that would allow you to stop worrying about your children or elderly relatives. Always know where they are, listen to what is happening around them, and be able to get in touch with them quickly, even if the phone is in silent mode, by using the Find My Kids app.
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A gift for a man on Valentine’s Day depends on the nature of your relationship: of course, with a varying degree of signs of attention. However, they will be appropriate for a beloved man, friend, and colleague. Here is what you can get for different men in your life for Valentine’s Day. Below is a list of win-win gift ideas:
Boyfriend | Husband | Father, brother, friend | Colleague | Classmate |
Sweets in the shape of hearts, a box with love notes, gift set of tea or coffee. | Warm bathrobe, heated slippers, tickets for an interesting event. | Glasses, thermo cup, laptop accessory. | Cufflinks, massage tool for the car, carwash certificate. | Customized pen, t-shirt, DIY card. |
A young man can be given a romantic or practical present, depending on their personal preferences. Here are some gift options for a guy on February 14th, which remain amongst the most popular year on year:
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A young woman can get her husband more personal – or, conversely, practical gifts for February 14th. All they would need to do is to ask their husband about their wishes in advance. Below are of a couple Valentine’s Day gift ideas for a husband:
What to get for relatives or male friends on that day:
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The following neutral presents will be appropriate for male colleagues:
A classmate could receive a friendly gift or a present with a display of affection, here are some examples:
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A Valentine’s Day gift for a woman can be both just a cute sign of attention and a really useful item. However, even if you decide to get the woman a set of kitchen pans, it would be good to add a pretty postcard or a box of chocolates to your gift.
Below are the ideas of popular gifts for young girls and women on Saint Valentine’s Day:
Girlfriend | Wife | Mother, sister, friend | Colleague | Classmate |
Jewelry, photoshoot, a certificate for shopping or for a beauty salon. | Jewelry, a warm blanket, tickets to an interesting event. | Phone or laptop accessories, workshop, a set of decorative candles. | A fruit basket, a teapot, or an anti-stress toy. | Unusual stationery, photo frame, or a soft toy. |
If your relationship is quite long-term, ask the girl directly about what she would like to receive on this day. And if you started dating not so long ago, or the girl is too shy to let you know her gift preference, get her one of the most popular gifts on February 14th:
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What to get your wife on Valentine’s day:
Examples of surprises for February 14th for relatives and female friends:
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Here is what could be given to a female colleague on this day:
What to get a classmate for Valentine’s Day as a display of friendship or romantic sympathy:
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Even if you do not have the opportunity to convey your feelings through an expensive present, make your loved ones happy with gifts that will fit into a modest budget. Here are some options for inexpensive Valentine’s Day gifts:
In the event where there is no spare money at all, you can still certainly arrange a romantic walk along the memorable places of the city for both of you!
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It is not so easy to make original gifts when most people already have everything they need. However, you can still try to surprise your loved one!
Here are the most unusual gifts on St Valentine’s day for a man:
Unusual presents for women on the 14th of February:
Those who want to impress their soulmate can choose a gift made with their own hands, allowing their loved one to receive a one-of-a-kind present. Below are some DIY gift options for February 14th:
A DIY love card can be either the main gift or an addition to it. In any case, the recipient will be sure to keep the handmade note, while the store-bought card will be most likely stored somewhere far away. You can make a love note from scratch with materials such as paper, felt, wood, or others.
Here is a video that combines and gives instructions on 10 different versions of Valentine cards making:
The presented techniques involve paper folding, cutting, origami, and collage.
Even if you don’t possess very impressive culinary skills, making a cake for Valentine’s Day could be very simple. You can cut out hearts from ready-made cakes, brush them with something sweet, such as whipped cream, condensed milk, or jam, sprinkle them with grated chocolate, and here you have it!
Making heart-shaped cookies is also pretty simple, here is one of the recipes:
The Internet is full of various DIY clothing ideas, so if you are a creative person, you would certainly be able to find something that works for you there.
The video recorded on a camera or on a phone can be edited on the computer. It may involve you using photos, parts of your other videos, and other graphic support that would allow you to bring back good memories.
In order to remind your second half of your love on a daily basis, you could make them a lovely macrame yarn bracelet. The video below provides clear step-by-step instructions on how to make a red and white heart-shaped bracelet in the zig-zag technique. Your loved one will be sure to wear this beautiful gift on their wrist every day.
Sweet gifts that can be given on February 14th to anyone: to your beloved ones, friends, relatives, and colleagues:
Gifts that can embarrass the recipient or even cause an argument if their purchase has not been agreed upon in advance:
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The celebration of Valentine’s Day can be remembered by your soulmate more than expensive gifts, just use your imagination and make some effort!
How to spend the 14th of February— ideas and tips:
Love and be loved every day. Let Valentine’s Day be another reminder of how important it is to please your loved ones!
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