Valentine’s Day Traditions

Roses are red…

Violets are blue,

We’re thinking about love,

What about you?

It’s hard not to get caught up in some way with Valentine’s Day – whether you go all out to spoil your other half with flowers, chocolates, the full works or you simply send a card.

There are a whole variety of different traditions and superstitions surrounding Valentine’s Day. Some of these include the following:

- It was believed that the first man an umarried girl saw on the morning of 14th February was the man who would be her future husband.

- In Wales,  wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons, to symbolise unlocking the heart.

- Birds also hold a special signifiance on Valentine’s Day. If a young woman saw a robin flying overhead on February 14th, then it was said that she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, then she would marry a poor man but be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she wouldl marry a rich man.

- Unmarried ladies used to write their lover’s names on paper and wrap them in clay. These clay balls would be dropped into water and it was believed that whichever ball came up to the surface first, would contain the name of her husband-to-be!

We’d love to know if you have created any of your own Valentine’s Day traditions that you do every year?