Valentine's Day Cards

Cards are a celebrated symbol of Valentine's Day. Everyone from young to old, make an expression of love through a beautiful and heartfelt Valentine's Day Card. Little wonder, that after Christmas Valentine's Day is a the second largest card-giving holiday in US. In India too, popularity of Valentine Cards is increasing every year. Some may be surprised to know that a greater percentage of Valentine's Day Greetings are exchanged between non-romantic relations. In order of popularity Valentine Day Cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives and sweethearts. Women receive a little over half the Valentine's Day cards exchanged on the occasion. In present time, Valentine's Day E-Cards is very much in vogue because of their cost-effectiveness, instantaneous delivery and massive use of Internet technology.

Valentines Day Card History

Tradition of exchanging Valentine's Day Cards is said to have begun as early as 1400's. Credit for the first written Valentine's Day Card is given to Charles - Duke of Orleans, who following capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, wrote a poem to his wife while imprisonment in the Tower of London. The greeting has been preserved by British Library.

The custom of sending cards on Valentines Day picked up by the 16th century and by 18th century Valentine's Day Cards began to be manufactured on a large scale. Introduction of Penny Post and improved printing technology made cards affordable for general public and helped to increase the popularity of cards. Valentine's Day cards adorned with traditional symbols like Cupid, hearts and roses instantly caught the fancy of love struck. In early 1800s factory workers made Valentine Cards by painting black and white pictures. Esther Howland, a young woman from Massachusetts is recognized as the first regular publisher of valentines in the United States. Esther sold her first handmade Valentine in 1849. This proved to be a stepping stone to a successful publishing firm specializing in elaborately decorated cards. By the end of the century, the cards were manufactured by machines and were adorned with flowers, gold leaf, satin and lace. In early 1900's a card company called Norcross - began to manufacture Valentines Day Cards. Several others followed and the popularity of the cards soared over the years.

Valentine's Day Card Ideas

Here are some tips and ideas to help you gift a perfect Valentine's Day Card to your beloved:

• Buy cards in time so that you have may select the card with ease. If you are good at painting you may also make a handmade Valentine's Day Card
• Write a verse or poem on the blank side. If you have a creative bent, a better idea would be compose your own lines, else quote a line that reflects your true feelings.
• Paste a picture of your beloved or a picture of you and your Valentine together to recreate good times spent in the past.
• List out reasons why you love your Valentine and write them in detail. Include specific memories and instances when he or she touched your heart.
• Spray a little perfume in the card to charm your sweetheart.
• Accompany the card with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a thoughtful gift.