There are several time-honored traditions connected to Valentine’s Day, and one of them is the exchange of greeting cards among classmates. Each year, primary school children choose a box of valentines depicting their favourite superhero, princess, cuisine, or Internet fad, fill out a card for each of their classmates, and then distribute the cards in class among the decorated shoeboxes. Parents have been grumbling about this custom for years, despite the fact that youngsters may find it enjoyable if they manage to persuade their parents or guardians to buy cards with stickers or light sticks. Many adults may be puzzled that Valentine’s Day, which was established to celebrate love partnerships, has become mostly a children’s festival. More importantly, youngsters may ask why we distribute Valentine’s Day cards.

What The Sources Go For

Some sources place the origin of Valentine’s Day greeting card exchanges in the 18th century in Europe and the United States, while others attribute the custom’s inception to St. Valentine himself. The name Valentine may have been shared by two Christians who were martyred for their religion. They both lived in Italy; the first was a priest and doctor in Rome, while the second was a bishop in Terni. It’s conceivable that the two people who were executed on February 14 in the year 270 were really the same person.

Regardless, Valentine was supposedly executed because he disobeyed the emperor by arranging secret weddings to save men from being forcibly conscripted into the army. The blind daughter of Valentine’s jailer is claimed to have been miraculously cured when he befriended her while he was in prison. On the night before he was executed, he reportedly penned a farewell letter, signing it “Your Valentine.”

In the past, though, early Valentine’s Day cards may be sent to everyone. Some historians even trace the custom of sending greeting cards to loved ones back to Germany. New Year’s Day, birthdays, and other anniversaries were all occasions when it was common practice to give and receive greeting cards with the express purpose of cementing friendships. The Kids Valentine Card is also important here.

The History

Even the practice of exchanging gifts amongst friends to celebrate the new year has a rich history, dating all the way back to ancient Egypt and China. Sometime in the 18th century, Europeans and Americans began celebrating Valentine’s Day by exchanging friendly greeting cards with one another. In the middle of the nineteenth century, the practice expanded across Europe, especially with the introduction of the penny post in England, which made sending valentines much more affordable. In the meanwhile, developments in printing technology have contributed to a growing industry. The English artist Kate Greenaway, as well as the American printers Thomas W. Strong and Robert H. Elton, all contributed their talents to the wide selection of valentines available to consumers in both Europe and the United States.

Conclusion

By providing a fair wage to her female employees, Esther Howland was one of the first businesswomen in the United States. This allowed them to produce the now-famous handmade collages. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the site of these assemblages.

Despite the commercial success of Valentine’s Day cards, their primary purpose remains unchanged: to provide a lighthearted outlet for people to express their love for those close to them on February 14. For decades, this custom has been practised.