Valentine’s Day is a holiday dedicated to love and romance. This sweet celebration that happens every year on the 14th of February is all about spreading love, affection and friendship. Even though couples mostly exchange flowers and chocolate on this day we recommend long-lasting gifts for Valentine’s Day to serve you as a reminder for years to come. Two gemstones we suggest represent Valentine's Day and have a significant meaning for the day. Rose Quartz is known as a gemstone of unconditional love and Amethyst is the birthstone for February and the stone of St. Valentine and faithful lovers.
What is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day also called St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on the 14th of February. It is a day when people express their affection and positive feelings for a loved one. While Valentine’s Day holds a special place for lovers, it is meant for everyone. It is not just a day of passion as people also show their kindness and affection for their friends and relatives. Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance and love until about the 14th century and the art of gifting gifts for Valentine’s Day has evolved ever since.
Why is it Called St. Valentine’s Day?
Valentine's Day was named after its patron saint St. Valentine. There is some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday precisely honours. The name was popular among Christians at the time because it means “powerful” or “worthy”. The Catholic Church recognises at least two different saints named Valentine. Both saints were known for their unique and interesting stories and the same destiny as they were martyred. It is even possible that different stories refer to only one person. The truth behind the origin of the holiday and its named patron is not entirely confirmed. There are some stories you might find interesting.
Who Was the Real St. Valentine?
One shared legend says that St. Valentine was a priest who defied the emperor’s orders in the third century and secretly married couples to spare their husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love. Another legend claims that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded outside Rome. St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics and beekeepers.
How Did Celebrating Valentine’s Day Start?
The history of Valentine’s Day and the story of its patron saint is covered in mystery. The earliest possible origin story of celebrating Valentine’s Day is an ancient pagan festival Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival celebrated each February. It was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders. The festival celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and the pairing of women with men by lottery. Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was forbidden at the end of the 5th century. Pope Gelasius replaced it with St. Valentine’s Day and some believe the reason was to “Christianise” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Others believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial.
How is Valentine’s Day Celebrated?
In the past, the custom of sending anonymous cards or messages to those whom one admired became the accepted way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. Formal messages or valentines appeared in the 1500s while commercially printed cards started by the late 1700s.
Valentines commonly illustrate Cupid, the Roman god of love, along with hearts. Traditional gifts for Valentine’s Day include cards, chocolates, jewellery and flowers, particularly red roses which are a symbol of beauty and love. Some people take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant while others may choose this day to propose or get married.
Valentine's Day is marked in many countries but is celebrated in some parts to a greater extent than others. In some cultures, it is also a time to appreciate friends and relatives.
Valentine's Day in Finland refers to “Friend’s Day” which is more about remembering all friends rather than focusing only on romance. Valentine's Day in Guatemala is known as “the Day of Love and Friendship”. It is similar to Valentine’s Day but it is also a time for many to show their appreciation for their friends. More unusually in Wales, couples exchange handcrafted wooden spoons as a sign of their devotion.
What Are Unique Gifts for Valentine’s Day?
A heart-shaped box of chocolate and flowers are some of the most shared gifts for Valentine's Day. However, according to the National Retail Federation in the US, the category that people typically spend the most on for the 14th of February is jewellery. In our opinion, Rose Quartz and Amethyst jewellery hold a strong place with a very special meaning for both.
Rose Quartz as Gifts for Valentine's Day
The most well-known meaning of Rose Quartz is its ability to enhance all kinds of love, from healing communication with family to developing a deeper bond with spouses and friends. It helps in creating a powerful space for self-care and self-love.
This gemstone symbolises love, tenderness, compassion and kindness. Connecting to it allows you to embrace these qualities in your relationship with yourself as well as your relationships with others.
The gemstone’s meaning is also greatly connected to its soothing pink colour giving a calming effect to the body and mind. The gentle energy it carries supports relationships, bringing joy and passion making Rose Quartz jewellery perfect for gifts for Valentine’s Day.
Amethyst as Gifts for Valentine's Day
Amethyst is the stone of St. Valentine and faithful lovers. St. Valentine was believed to have worn an Amethyst ring engraved with Cupid’s image. The gemstone has a powerful property to calm the mind and body. It gives the wearer the will to open one’s heart. Amethyst is also the birthstone for February which could make your choice of gifts for Valentine’s Day even easier. If your loved one is a February baby.
Should You Get Gifts for Valentine’s Day?
Valentine's Day is often criticised for being just another commercial holiday. Initially, the holiday was marked with a message passed to a loved person but with time it has evolved into gift-giving like chocolates, flowers or jewellery.
Gifting or not will greatly depend on what stage your relationship is in. If you are at the start of a relationship, you might not be certain you are ready for celebrations and big gifts for Valentine’s Day. It is about you and your relationship, so follow your feelings and do whatever you feel is the right decision to do. The important thing is not to feel pressure to give your significant other something extravagant if you don’t want to or can't afford to. You can always choose a small and affordable gift to mark the day and express your feelings. For some of us spending time together and making an effort to do something for each other is a better way of showing affection.
Cute Valentine’s Day Quotes
We have included a selection of quotes from some of the greatest minds which could inspire you to express your feelings. They could be used to elevate your message this Valentine’s Day.
“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be…well, January.” Jim Gaffigan, Comedian
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller, Author
“Where there is love, there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi, Civil Rights Leader
“This fire that we call Loving is too strong for human minds. But just right for human souls.” Aberjhani, Historian
“Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Poet
“I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more” Angelita Lim, Writer
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu, Philosopher
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” Mignon McLaughlin, Journalist
“A friend knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” William Shakespeare, Poet
“True friends are like diamonds — bright, beautiful, valuable and always in style.” Nicole Richie, Actress
“Friends are medicine for a wounded heart, and vitamins for a hopeful soul.” Steve Maraboli, Author
Conclusion
Our ability to love has connected people for centuries, from Roman times to today. Valentine’s Day serves as a reminder to take a break from the business of life and dedicate one day a year to express your love for your loved ones. Gifts for Valentine’s Day can range from dedicating your time, a box of chocolates, and flowers to gemstone jewellery. Rose Quartz and Amethyst jewellery bring that extra special meaning to your gift with their powerful properties. Your loved one will cherish this gift and will admire it for a long time to come.
Browse Our Amethyst Rose Quartz Designs
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