How Did Victorians celebrate Valentines’ Day?

Valentines today is hugely commercialised, and some may say over-the-top! Have you ever stopped and thought how it looked 200 years ago?

We all know that it comes from St Valentine. Before we have a look at how the Victorians celebrated Valentine’s Day. Let’s look at a brief History of where it all comes from.

 

Lupercalia

Like most of our modern-day celebrations, Valentine’s Day comes from pagan origins.

It’s believed that St Valentine comes from a pagan Holiday called Lupercalia. Mostly celebrated in the middle of February, this holiday is where Men would strip naked and sacrifice a Goat or Dog. These pagans thought that this would help with their fertility.

The Lupercalia holiday was so popular, that this celebration was still just commonplace 150 years after Christianity was legalised in the roman Empire.

It wasn’t until the late fifth century that the Lupercalia was banned by Pope Gelasius.

It wasn’t until the Catholic Church declared February 14^th as St Valentine’s Day that the middle of February was taken over with a new celebration.

 

St Valentine

There are two Saints that are contenders for St Valentine’s Day, both of which have similarities with one another.

Both Valentine’s were both killed by the same third Century Roman Emperor Claudius. It is also believed that they both died on the 14^th of February, but in different years. Both Valentines were miracle workers and Bishops, both were called Valentine.

Bishop Of Terni

Bishop Valentine of Terni is Largely considered to be the real St Valentines.

Valentine or Valentinus (Latin Spelling) was born 226AD in Terni, Italy.  Died 269AD

While under house arrest due to him refusing to give up his religious beliefs and spreading the word of God, Valentine was under the charge of Judge Asterius.  The judge decided to test Valentine. Asterius had a blind adopted Daughter and brought her to Valentine.

If Valentine was able to restore the Child’s sight the Judge would do whatever was asked of him.

When the child’s sight was restored By Valentine the Judge asked what he should do. Valentine told him he should fast for three days and then take the sacraments of baptism.

The Judge obliged and partook in fasting and the baptism and so did the forty adult members of his Household. The judge set free all his Christian arrestees along with Valentine.

Valentine couldn’t stop Evangelizing and was arrested by Claudius the Roman Emperor.

Valentine tried to Convince him to turn to Christianity.  Claudius refused and condemned Valentine to death. Thus, being executed on February the 14^th 269.

Your Valentine

Shortly before his death Valentine sent the judges daughter a loving note and signed it “From Your Valentine”.

Which is said to have inspired the act of sending love notes and signing them your valentine, on February the 14^th.

 

A Victorian Valentine

 

The craze of Valentine’s Day during the Victorian era (which was already considered a time of sentimentality. led many to criticise the celebration and call it a social disease. The holiday was believed to be a main factor in the downfall of Victorian society.

Be My Valentine

During the 19^th century it became so popular to send your loved ones a Valentine’s card that postal workers were given a meal allowance due to the long hours that they would have to do keep up with demand.

Homemade Cards

The production of coloured paper for Valentines homemade items which would likely either be pictures or post cards started in the 1820s.

Before Mass production of greeting cards, it was a popular activity among women to make their own homemade cards for their valentine with a personal and sometimes secret love note inside.

These were often very extravagant and would certainly be a sight to see.  Decorated with Lace, silver and gold foil appliqués and dried flowers. (Dried flowers being very popular in the Victorian era) and seashells among the items used to adorn their creation.

Even with Mass production of the valentine cards this didn’t deter many from making their own, who still proffered the homemade card.

Vinegar Cards

Just as it was Popular to send a secret admirer a declaration of love with a Valentines card it was just as popular to send Cards or post cards that rejected people and made it clear to the recipient that you disliked them! Due to them being sent anonymously you could never be sure who they were from.

These cards gained bad publicity in the press and soon fell out of favour.

Often with a cheeky poem or depiction on the front these cards were known as Vinegar cards. The popularity of these came about in the 1840s at the same time of the mass production of valentine’s cards, being helped by the penny postage stamp that came into effect in 1840.

 

In 1841 400,000 Valentines were posted throughout England.

These would have been a mixture of Valentine and Vinegar Cards.