Getting Creative this Valentine’s Day
People often say that Valentine’s Day is not a real holiday that it only exists for greeting card companies to make money. Well, let me tell you that is not true. Valentine’s Day has a rich history and should be celebrated as a time to remind your loved one and yourself how much they, and you, are loved and appreciated.
Giving a Valentine originated in pre-Christian Rome when they celebrated Lupercalia festival. This feast was a time of new beginnings and part of the tradition was to pair off couples by having a boy pick a girl’s name from a love urn. As Christianity rose in Europe, the pope at the time changed Lupercalia to honor St. Valentine, a bishop who secretly married soldiers against the emperor’s wishes. When he was discovered, he was sentenced to death. It is said his last words to his beloved was written on a note signed, “From your Valentine,” the phrase that continues to be used every year.
Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas
Now, in modern times, there are so many ways to celebrate this wonderful holiday! While dinner dates are always nice, here are a few ways to celebrate that are a bit more unusual, but still romantic:
- Go to a museum
- Take a day trip somewhere neither of you have been before
- Have a nighttime picnic (if it is not too cold!)
- Go ice skating
- Spend the evening playing board games
These ideas are ways to connect with each other in a way that perhaps you have yet to do before. Enriching your knowledge of culture, exploring a new place, reminding yourselves of your childhood selves, all contribute to the relationship and can help remind each you of why you love each other. Romance is more than candles and chocolate, it is about making the other person feel loved and appreciated.
Valentine’s Day is about reminding your true love how much you love and appreciate them.
Valentine’s Day Decoration Ideas
Decorating for the holiday is also a fun way to spend time together or surprise your partner!
- Love note pillows – Add a heart shaped pocket to a throw pillow and store love letters to your partner in them. It is a great way to write down how you feel and remind your partner of those feelings
- “Be Mine” Sign – Using a canvas, piece of wood, paper, or whatever else you have on hand, make sign that can be hung to have a constant reminder over the Valentine’s Day season how much you love your partner. Whether it say just “Be Mine” or any other cute Valentine’s saying, it will be a thoughtful memento for you both.
- Upcycle wine bottles – Wine bottles are an elegant and inexpensive way to decorate. They can hold birch branches, flowers, or nothing at all and just sit on display looking pretty. The bottle can be wrapped with twine, ribbon, fabric, yarn, or other things to jazz it up, or they can be painted, covered in glitter, or whatever other material makes it look good to you.
- Chair backers – For the dining room or kitchen table, a really cute way to decorate is to add a backer onto each chair. Some Valentine’s Day themes would be to get (or make) a mail pouch, envelope, heart, or cupid backer. Perhaps the mail pouch or envelope could even hold things like love notes or candy for a sweet surprise!
- Plushies – Gnomes, animals, or little puffball creatures would all be sweet little ways to decorate and make your partner smile. Either buy or DIY create a plush to put on the couch, the mantle, or the bed to add a little comfort and sweetness.
Final Thoughts
Any touch of decoration and celebratory ideas will immediately speak volumes at the thought and consideration that went into Valentine’s Day magic. For sure there is no wrong when it comes to decorating for celebrating the day.
As Valentine’s Day has evolved, the traditions and ways to celebrate have too. However, is best for you to recognize the day and your loved one is the way to go. These are just some ideas to start out but alter them how you see fit for your holiday!
