Amid the subzero temperatures, and crazy Chicago Blizzard we are knee deep in the busy, hectic, most romantic week of the year.
February has long been romance month, with St. Valentine’s Day, right smack dab in the middle.
I absolutely love the fabled, steeped history of the holiday . Back in the third century, in romantic Rome, Valentine was a priest. Emperor Claudius II declared single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers.
Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied the emperor and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Emperor Claudius ordered that he be immediately sent to jail, and put to death.
According to legend, Valentine sent the very first “valentine” himself. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl — albeit his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “from your Valentine,” the very same expression that we continue to use today.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated – still to this day – in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death.
Another bit of history – during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine’s Day — should be a day for romance.
In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated in the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes.
By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was unpopular.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (Christmas, of course, is when 2.6 billion cards are sent).
Now, let’s get on with the giveaway – our first 2011 contest!
We want to know…
We want to be inspired…
What do you have dreamed up for your romance filled, lovely Valentine’s Day ? How do you plan to spend next Monday, February 14th in celebration?
Comment here, and tell us all about your romantic plans – and we will choose our contest winners this Sunday, February 13th at 7 pm.
We are choosing not one, but THREE winners for the most romantic Valentine, and giving each winner one of my brand new Debi Lilly Design “Allure” dozen roses Valentine’s Day arrangements, available only at Safeway stores coast to coast (that’s Dominick’s here in Chicago).
This design, the “Allure”, is my very favorite in the collection. I drew inspiration for it from one of my favorite corners of Paris – Hotel Crillon – where roses abound throughout the hotel (watch this fantastique video and be transported there yourself: http://www.crillon.com).
I flew to San Francisco last November to design each Valentine floral collection arrangement one by one…it was SO much fun. I was like a kid in a candy store with dozens of buckets of gorgeous florals in every color, texture and variety.
It is just thrilling – and beyond exciting to design a collection that is beautiful, affordable, and accessible.
These are all right down the street in your neighborhood grocery. Don’t you love it?
Each winner will tell us your favorite color rose, and we will then custom design your florals, and have ready for you at A Perfect Event, 3050 N. Lincoln, Chicago – or we can arrange for local delivery. Thank you to Dominick’s and Safeway for partnering with us, and for this fabulous giveaway.
If you are out of town – and you don’t have a Safeway nearby (the agony!) – we will happily send you our Very Valentine Gift Box – filled with our favorite must haves for this season – Paddywax soy candles, K. Hall bath and body, Olivia Olive Oil Soap, and more.
So ladies and men – forward to friends – share – repost – and let’s hear all about your plans. Your Valentine flowers are on us this year.
We can’t wait to read all your valentine inspiration…so please share, inspire, excite, and educate us on the ways of your heart.
Oh please oh please…won’t you be our valentine?
-Debi Lilly
I’m taking my fiancé on a surprise Valentine’s Day/Wedding Shower Weekend trip to New York… I’ve convinced her boss to give her Friday off work, arranged for her best friends and sister to fly in (from Chicago, London & DC) booked restaurants, bars and spa treatments and planned shopping galore! Then on Monday I’m taking her to a special dinner cooked by one of her favourite Top Chefs. She’s had such a stressful few months and with the wedding coming up it’s only going to get worse, so I thought it was time to spoil her!
ok – who can possibly beat this??? bravo.
Great Blog Postings! I came across your website as I was doing some research/daydreaming!! This year for Valentine’s, both my husband and my hearts are beating larger and fuller as we have a new little guy in our life to love! Our son will turn 10 months old on February 14th and so we will spend it as a family. That and who decided to have Valentine’s on a Monday?
After a loving day at work, I will come home and make my husband’s favorite French Onion Soup and the I am planning to grill (if we can dig it out of the ever-lasting snow) heart-shaped pizzas. To cap off the night, I’m making a 4-Shades of Pink Layer cake topped with fluffy buttercream frosting wit a side of hot chocolate and cut-out heart marshmallows. Though it is not the most romantic of events this year, sometimes it’s the simple things, like plain ol’ love, that make the night! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Heather – that menu is making my mouth water…
Congrats on the new baby. What a fun family Valentine’s you have perfectly planned.