The Origin of Sending Valentines Day Cards

Red roses, boxes of chocolates, and valentines cards are the iconic images when you think of Valentines Day. Although there are various statements regarding the actual events that led to the establishment of the holiday by Pope Gelasius 1, the martyr, St Valentine, was a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. February was the official beginning of spring in the Roman calendar, and later during the Middle Ages both France and England believed February to be the beginning of the birds' mating season. All these beliefs lead to the acceptance of February as the month of romance.

However, it wasn't until towards the end of the High Middle Ages that creating and exchanging of valentines cards began when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 17th century, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated in Great Britain. The earliest cards were handwritten notes exchanged between friends and lovers in all social classes. As printing technology improved the ready-made or "mechanical" valentines cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions when etiquette discouraged direct expression of one's feelings.

The introduction of mass-produced greeting cards lessoned the appeal to make one's own cards by hand. Mass-produced greeting cards became big business in the 20th century with Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. That’s when valentines day cards become popular.