Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all have a wonderful day ahead of you filled with pink cards, delectable chocolate and romantic moments.

Did you know that verses and Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, when lovers said or sang their valentines? Written valentines began to appear after 1400. The oldest \”valentine\” in existence was made in the 1400's and is now in a British Museum.

In the early 1800's, valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured valentines were black and white pictures that were painted by workers in a factory. Fancy valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid 1800's.

110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period around Valentine's Day.

And over time, the custom of kissing developed as a way for adults to express their love and affection for one another. The roots of this form of affection can be traced back to primitive times, when mothers fondled their children, much as mothers do today.

Much later, in the sixth century, society apparently accepted the custom of kissing between adults as an expression of their affection. Not surprisingly, France first accepted kissing in courtship, and in amore.  The custom of kissing swept from France through Europe to Russia and eventually, the kiss was incorporated into marriage ceremonies.