VALENTINE / LOVE

Celebrated on February 14 every year, Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is the traditional day on which lovers convey their love to each other by sending Valentine's cards, sometimes even anonymously. The most common feature of Valentines Day these days is the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Popular Valentine symbols of modern times include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, mass produced greeting cards have largely replaced handwritten notes. It is believed that nearly one billion Valentines Day cards are sent each year worldwide, making it only the second largest card-sending holiday next to Christmas. Women are believed to purchase approximately 85 percent of all "valentines".

Stories of many Valentines

Opinions differ about who St Valentine was. Early martyrologies mention at least three St Valentines under the date of 14 February. One is a priest at Rome, another a Bishop of Interamna (now Terni in Italy) and the other lived and died in Africa. Many, however, are of the opinion that the first two are the same person.

It is, however, widely believed that Valentine's Day has perhaps originated from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. A festival was held on February 15 in honor of one of their gods Lupercus, who was called upon by the Romans to ward off the threats of those fierce wolves that roamed the adjacent forests. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, a love lottery was organized in which the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man then drew a slip and the girl whose name he picked up was to be his sweetheart for the year.

The holiday subsequently became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. At that time when Christianity was still a new religion, Valentine was a priest in Rome. The then Emperor Claudius II, had issued an order forbidding the Roman soldiers to marry or become engaged. The emperor believed that once they got married, his soldiers would want to stay home rather than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was finally arrested, imprisoned, and beheaded on February 14, the eve of Lupercalia. Valentine was posthumously named a saint. As Christianity grew stronger in Rome, the priests moved the Lupercalia or spring holiday from February 15 to February 14, i.e., Valentine's Day. Since then the holiday began honoring Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus.

"From your Valentine"

According to another story, Valentine was one of the early Christians who was seized and dragged before the Prefect of Rome and jailed for helping some Christian martyrs. He cured the jailor's daughter of blindness while in jail. When the emperor learned of this miracle he ordered the beheading of Valentine. Valentine is said to have sent the jailor's daughter a farewell message signed, "From your Valentine".

In 1969, as part of a larger effort to reduce the number of saint days of purely legendary origin, the Church removed St. Valentine's Day as an official holiday from its calendar. At present, February 14 is dedicated only to Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.

This article is written by Arindam Bose for It is a free article and can be used by any webmaster on their website, provided they will keep the link intact with the article ( for sending Valentine's Day greeting cards to loved and near and dear ones, please check out this page ).

A flower can say a thousand things without actually saying anything! Flowers might be inanimate but possess a language of their own. They convey a whole gamut of emotions which even words might find difficult to put through. The sight and smell of flowers is irresistible and what they reflect is irreplaceable.

For any and every occasion, be it birthdays, anniversaries, engagements or new arrivals, flowers can be given as a gift without thinking twice. One thing is for sure, it will definitely be liked by the recipient. Who doesn't like flowers? We know that everyone does and hence no other gift can be as appropriate as a bunch or bouquet of flowers. Your loved ones will love you even more for it!

Flowers can be gifted in various forms and arrangements in accordance with the occasion and your requirement. Be it a simple bunch, in the form of a bouquet or in a basket, flowers look appealing in every garb that they are offered in. They can be arranged keeping in mind the various colour combinations and themes, making it appropriate for decoration purposes as well!

What a flower reveals as a gift is a subjective issue. A bunch of red roses is a perfect accompaniment to a heart warming proposal that you make to your girlfriend! In case, its friendship that's on your mind, a bouquet of yellow roses will do the needful and convey the message even without you having to utter a word! Blue carnations are enough to make an ill person feel alright and some sunflowers in the morning are sure to make your entire day bright and sunny!

One of the most beautiful creations of nature, flowers form a perfect gift for all your loved ones, is a great way to say that you care and a perfect way to express your love for that special one!

Henry Kruz is a marketing expert who provides the information on various themes through articles. flower giftchocolate gift

Keep the romance in a relationship alive with these quick tips.

Planning

If you are married, or living together its still important to get out of the house. Go on a date without children or friends at least once a month. Planning can often makes the difference between having a date or not. Even though a date is planned, spontaneity allows for following the whims of enjoyment. Always remember the cost of the date does not determine its value.

Create Memories

Every time you go out go somewhere. Creating new memories help relationships grow. Go on a date and experience something new together. The key to a successful romantic event is attitude.

Surprise

Surprise inspires romance, if you`re going to be back first, buy your lover`s favorite takeaway, and try to rush and arrange a beautiful candlelit dinner complete with wine and silver candlesticks. If you`re first out and slightly early, buy a bunch of roses and drop by your lover`s office, leaving them on her desk with an invitation to dinner tonight. On the way home, buy your lover`s favorite dessert or ice-cream, curl up together on the sofa after dinner, get that dessert out, and enjoy it together.

Surprise him/her with a sensuous massage after a romantic dinner. If you do not cook, you can still arrange a romantic dinner. Just make sure you show that you have put some thought into it order her favorite food or buy a picnic hamper packed with gourmet delights. Be adventurous, and eat in a park or beach. If it rains, just move indoors to a carpet picnic.

Communicate

Verbally express how you feel but remember action speaks louder than words, however, sometimes your mate needs to hear them.

Suspense

Keep your mate in suspense. It goes hand in hand with romance. Notes in his lunch or brief case : Slip a suggestive note in, and leave him hanging. Pack a quick lunch of sandwiches or your lover`s favorite for his/her lunch in a lunch box. Leave a romantic message inside. The anticipation will build all day.

Celebrate Memories

Give your mate a small memento to trigger memories.

Play Treasure Hunt.

Leave little notes telling her how much you care around the house in places you know she will find them, like on the bathroom mirror, on top of the milk, in her purse etc. You can also include clues on the bottom of each message to help her find her Valentine's day gift.

Romance

Wake up early, and prepare breakfast in bed for your lover. When your lover gets home late from work, suggest he or she lie in the bathtub while you scrub, rub and bathe him or her.

Keep it Fresh

Finding new activities that both enjoy heightens interest in being with each other. Unplug the television and the phone. Snuggle up on the couch together and watch a movie. Let him choose the movie, or choose one each and watch two. You want to have your mate's complete undivided attention. Light some incense or use scented candles. You will love the way they season the room. On the way home, buy your lover`s favorite dessert or ice-cream, curl up together on the sofa after dinner, get that dessert out, and enjoy it together.

Prepare

Always have after dinner mints. Nothing stifles romance than bad breath. Need I say more.

Music

Music can be very seductive. So when it comes to picking music, go with what you like. However, when creating a romantic mood keep in mind that Jazz and R&B is usually the music of choice. Don't forget to set your tape or CD player on continuous play. Nothing kills the mood like stopping to change the CD or to flip the tape. If the only source of music you have is the radio there is plenty of stations that plays Jazz and R&B. Serenade your mate even if singing is not your strong suit.

Compliment

Daily compliments to (and from) BOTH partners. Such as..."Hi honey, you look beautiful today!" Or "Hey handsome! You did a wonderful job pruning that tree!" You know just anything positive that you can think of to brighten your spouses day.

Thoughtful Gifts

Buy a thoughtful gift. Keep an ear and eye out for what she says she needs or wants. Always remember the cost of the gift does not determine its value. Buy him a present that takes some thought, like a book by his favorite author, or the DVD of his favorite movie. Buy him two tickets to see his favorite sports team, and tell him he can take a mate with him.

Spontaneity

On a rainy day, instead of taking the opportunity to do the errands, do the laundry, cleaning, etc... , take an afternoon nap. Put music on at a low volume and, enjoy yourselves in the stillness of the moment. Even though a date is planned, spontaneity allows for following the whims of enjoyment and keeps the dating experience from becoming old and disinteresting.

Participate

Keep conversation going. Ask questions. Be interested in what he/she is saying. Arrange to meet after work at that quiet pier where both of you love to sit and talk while enjoying the ocean breeze.

Candles

Dim the lights to add an air of mystery, and create a warm cozy feeling. If you`re going to be back first, buy your lover`s favorite takeaway, and try to rush and arrange a beautiful candlelit dinner complete with wine and silver candlesticks. Wear something sexy, but comfortable. Freeze candles a hour before using. They burn slower. If you don't want to use scented candles, you can use heated oil, potpourri or incense.

Francesca Black a romantic at heart, writes for Valentine Shop and Angel Gifts

So you met a delicious looking man. And then he whipped out his uniform and you liked him even more. But now he's being deployed and whilst you knew what you signed up for… it's still not good.

There are thousands of women going through the same thing and there is lots of helpful advice around for those dealing with deployment. For British ladies, the British Army has a Welfare and Support system that gives lots of practical advice and support. And in the US, the US Community and Family Support centre offers the same. But you might be thinking a bit more emotionally. What do you do when you get really lonely and you just want a cuddle?

Lots of things. Keep busy and distract yourself. There is always work to take your mind off things or take college courses, use your friends and start hanging out with them more, go out and do things you might not think to do like museums or comedy clubs or dance classes, start exercising,

"It goes faster when I'm thinking, 'I only have three more months to get a body like Britney Spears (ha, ha)!'" –kelnelmo.

But do make sure you do indulge in thinking about him too, in the right way. Don't get sucked into oh- god- I- miss- him- so- much- I'm- going- to- sit- here- and- fester- all- alone thoughts. Write letters or emails often, to keep him up on all the news so he won't feel out of the loop. You could even get creative and send him a personalised romance novel giving him a bit of saucy reading each night!

But, remember, he's going to be missing you too, so search for gifts for deployed forces and get him something special.

Create a Virtual Home, with modern technology many soldiers have access to the Internet. There are numerous sites (like myfamily.com) where you can create your own homepage and post important information, events and photos so he's not feeling left out and abandoned.

And definitely think ahead about you as a couple. Many couples get scared that after a long time apart the relationship won't be the same, it will fall apart but it doesn't have to happen like that. Send him lots of gorgeous pictures of yourself and keep sending more. Make him a little album of photos that are special to him; you, you and him together, holidays you had together, nights out, parties. Or even better, get him a personalised erotic romance novel. U Star Novels will send to BFPO, FPO and APO addresses. He might laugh and scoff but once he's alone in his bunk, looking at your photos he'll turn to his personalised erotic romance book. And he'll love it. A book completely about you and him romancing it up and getting down to some naughty action…It can help keep the love and spark in your relationship alive. And you could get one for yourself too.

Whatever happens know that you are not alone. Even though you didn't want him to be deployed, there is a lot of help out there for you and lots of people going through the same thing. And there are always friends to help you out. And what is it they say…Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Katie Olver from UStar Novels U Star Novels offers the UK's first adventure romance novels with a twist...You are the star. Ranging in sauciness, we'll entwine you and your lover into an authentic romance novel featuring you on every page.

For young dating couples that are still experiencing the passion and all-encompassing rush of new love, Valentine's Day can hold great importance. Impressing someone with elaborate gifts can be one way of telling the person that you are dating that you think they are special, and that you have great hopes for the relationship. Valentine's Day gifts in this stage of a relationship can tell people a lot about each other, and can be a good indicator of where the relationship may be headed.

What about people who have been married for a while?

For married couples Valentine's Day isn't less important…just different and, in many ways, better. It is a time to celebrate love and reminisce about all the Valentine's Days that you have spent together. Gifts given on Valentine's Day to a spouse can have much more significance, because you should know your spouse well enough to give something that has special meaning. A diamond anniversary band or three stone ring given to a wife tells her that you are glad that you married her and that you value your life together. A gold watch given to a husband tells him that you appreciate him and want him to have the very best.

Married couples don't have to give elaborate gifts on Valentine's Day; a meaningful gift that says you care or a sweet gesture of love are just as special. When you are married, the thought that is put into the gift is the important factor. A jewelry gift that says "I know you, and I know what makes you happy" goes a long way toward making someone feel that they are special and valued. If your wife likes heart shapes then giving her a diamond heart pendant or bracelet with heart-shaped charms can mean much more to her than simply handing her a gold chain. It shows that you know what she likes, you listen to her, that you put thought into the gift. Jewelry that celebrates each other's individuality as well as the life that you have made together can be priceless, no matter what the actual cost.

Giving your spouse something they have been considering buying for a while is a good way to show your love. To come up with an original Valentine's Day gift think about what is important to your spouse; what makes him or her happy. Does your husband love to golf? Give him a gift certificate for a round of golf at his favorite course. Does your wife love classical music? Tickets for a night out to see the symphony let's you plan a second night to spend together. A gift of jewelry is a lasting reminder of this Valentine's Day and your relationship – and jewelry is always appreciated. And don't forget about giving flowers – they may seem traditional but flowers brighten a winter day and are romantic. One of the reasons that successful marriages stay that way is because the spouses try never to take each other for granted, and the right gift on Valentine's Day can go a long way in proving your commitment to that ideal.

Jill Renee is the president of Danforth Diamond, an online jewelry store specializing in diamond engagement rings. With 50 years in the jewelry business, the Danforth family developed their site to help you purchase a quality engagement ring.

Various flowers come with various meanings and by knowing what each is you can send your loved one the right flowers for the right occasion. To some people this may seem like a trival piece of information to know but after sending someone flowers you will normally recieve a thankyou phone call to which you can add the meaning of the flowers showing an extra meaning and thoughtfullness to your gift.

Carnations remain one of the most popular flowers in the world as well as being one of the oldest varieties. Carnations are a symbol of love and fascination, they are a perfect gift for a loved one for any occassion. Carnations are available in a wide variety of colours.

Gerbera's are an extremely popular flower variety through florists, due to their large long and bright petals. They represent beauty and innocence and can be found in a large variety of extremly beautiful colours.

Tulips have a very distinct look about them, thus their meaining of grace and elegance and love. Another popular choice for a loved one.

Roses are without a doubt the most recognisable and popular flower. With each colour of the rose having a different meaning.Red are for love and romance, the perfect rose to give to a lover. Pink is for appreciation and admiration and as a slightly more subtle alternative to the red. Yellow symbolise friendship and joy, white is for honour and for remembrance. Orange for desire and enthusiasm.

copyright 2008

Flowers are one of the most beautiful and charming gifts that nature has provided us. The delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated us for a long time. Flowers have been used for ornamentation and decoration purposes all around the world. Flowers have inspired the creativity of many artists and poets and the inspiration has resulted in beautiful artistic representations.

These charming nature's masterpieces are brimming with classic beauty and graceful elegance. Flowers are a medium of expressing our emotions. They innocently express strongest feelings in a delicate and chaste manner and therefore make a perfect gift. Flowers have a wonderful ability to provide cheer and joy to the recipient and are one of the most popular gifts.

Different flowers express different emotions such as Bells of Ireland for Good Luck, Carnations represent devoted love, Dahlias represent dignity & elegance, and lilies represent purity & faith. Roses are most widely gifted flowers and different colors of the flower represent different meanings. A red rose represents love, unconscious beauty, white rose purity & spiritual love, yellow rose denotes gladness & joy, orange roses represent enthusiasm & fascination and pink roses denote grace.

Kellee Flowers is a leading online florist in Melbourne offering beautiful flowers such as corporate flowers, wedding flowers and sympathy flowers. The stylish Corporate Flowers change the dreary office environment into a cheerful atmosphere. The lovely flowers provide a healing touch to the stressful office atmosphere. The client preferences are specially adhered too and the flower arrangements are according to the theme suggested by the client. The Bridal Flowers enhance the beauty of the bridal gown and add freshness and delicate elegance to the whole bridal attire. You can get bridal bouquet that match with the taste and the outfit of the bride. As a customer you have a variety of options to choose from.

Kellee Flowers are an elegant and beautiful way to express your feelings in style. The hand picked, fresh flowers are the best way to show your friends and relatives that you care. Visit the site and send flowers anywhere in Australia.

John is a well known author who writes for