The history of Valentine's Day dates back to ancient Rome, during the third century. A young priest named Valentine defied the orders of the Emperor Claudius II, who forbade his soldiers to marry, and performed marriages in secret for those in love. Valentine was put into prison for his actions, where he fell in love with the daughter of his jailor. Before he was executed, he signed a last letter to her, "From Your Valentine," which became an expression that's still widely used today. Valentine was later made a saint and, in approximately 496 AD, the Pope made February 14 a special day for honoring him. Every year on Valentine's Day we celebrate love for our family, friends, and especially our romantic partner. One of the most timeless expressions of love is giving flowers.
Flowers have long been a symbol of fertility, marriage, and love. The custom of giving your sweetheart Valentine's Day flowers comes from the eighteenth century, where people would use bouquets to send each other non-verbal messages. Each flower was ascribed a specific meaning enabling people to have an entire conversation through the giving of blooms. The blossom which represented love is the red rose, which still is given as a timeless gesture of romance. While some women may have a special flower favorite which their sweetheart prefers to send, the traditional flowers for Valentines' Day are roses. Florists tell us that the most frequently ordered bouquets for the holiday are still a dozen long-stemmed red roses. While there are other contemporary gifts for Valentine's Day, such as cards, chocolates, and candy hearts, nothing says romance like flowers. It is a gesture that Valentine surely would have appreciated.
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