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Valentine's Day wasn't always a commercial holiday

There are two camps when it comes to Valentine’s Day — those who love Cupid and hearts and flowers and those who believe it is a commercial conspiracy created by the candy and card companies.

In reality, Valentine’s Day was a tradition long before candy hearts and greeting cards.

The origins of Valentine’s Day are a combination of myth and fact that track back to Christian (St. Valentine) and early Roman (Lupercalia) traditions.

Valentine greetings can be traced back as far as the Middle Ages, although written valentines didn’t appear until after 1400. The oldest valentine dates back to a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415.

Cupid, often depicted as a arrow-toting cherub, is thought to be an interpretation of Eros, the Greek god of love.

Valentine’s Day, as we know it, is celebrated in the U.S. Canada, Mexico, UK, France, and Australia. By the mid-18th century, it became common to trade small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. Commercial greetings evolved around 1900.

I’m a fan of Valentine’s Day for the simple reason that it promotes romance, love, and passion. Here’s to Cupid and a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Edmund Blair Leighton's Regency Art

Do you have a favorite Regency painting? One of the most famous painters of the time was Edmund Blair Leighton, who captured much of the everyday lives of the era. This is one of his famous paintings.

Delicate Shoes in the Regency

Shoes in the Regency were made very delicately and didn’t hold up for very long. During poor weather, a little rain or mud could ruin a pair. Women especially would stick to gravel paths instead of taking the chance at ruining their shoes in the grass or mud.