Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." When you start to hear cheesy poetry like this, and when your local drug store is bursting with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, draped in pinks and reds, you know Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. So what do you do to make this Valentine's Day extra special for those you love?

You can start by sending Valentine's Day cards to everyone on your list: family, friends, kids, co-workers, and of course, significant others. Next you can set up a special date for your sweetie pie, shower him/her with love and a unique gift, and pepper in a little romance. Your night is now complete.

The Legend of St. Valentine

• Who is St. Valentine? Many legends exist around the man for whom the day of romance is named. The Catholic Church recognizes three saints, all martyrs, by the name of Valentinus or St. Valentine. Though no one knows exactly how the legend goes, everyone can appreciate the heroic and romantic appeal of each.

  One legend is set in third century Rome where Claudius II had forbidden marriages because he believed that single men made better soldiers than married men. St. Valentine defied this injustice by marrying young lovers in private. Another legend contends that St. Valentine was killed while helping others escape from a brutal Roman prison. A third legend asserts that St. Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him while he was in prison. He sent what is considered the first valentine, signed "from your Valentine," a phrase that has evolved into the holiday's most popular salutation - "Be my Valentine."

Valentine's Day Dates

• A Valentine's Day date needs to be creative, well thought out and of course, romantic. Or you can just do any old thing, whatever. Psyche! Orchestrate a masterpiece for Valentine's Day and she'll never forget it. Drop the ball on Valentine's Day, and, well she'll never forget that either. To save yourself, choose the former. Here are some ideas for romantic Valentine's Day dates to get you started:

  1. If you live in an appropriate climate, pack a picnic dinner of good wine, cheeses and crackers, and fresh fruits, and head to a local park, nature reserve or other place of natural beauty for a romantic picnic dinner. Watch the sunset and the moon rise. Curl up in each other's arms under a blanket and pick out constellations in the nighttime sky.
  2. Recreate your first date. Go to the same restaurant, order the same food and drinks, and try to feel the same excitement you felt on that special day.
  3. Create a scavenger hunt and candlelight dinner at home. Cook your love a romantic meal, have soft music playing, sort rose petals out on the floor and tables, and leave little clues in each room leading up to a bigger gift and card.
  4. Have a spa date. Partner up and go get a massage, mud bath, or other spa service together. Most spas will let you sip champagne or indulge in fresh fruit while you are serviced.

Valentine's Day Cards

• Whatever you do on Valentine's Day, don't forget the card! This is your chance to get sappy, and you're significant other is bound to love every second of it. Valentine's Day cards, after all, are nothing if not romantic. So let it all out, on paper (so there's record of it). AmericanGreetings.com has tons of printable Valentine's Day cards to get you started. Choose from heartfelt cards, funny cards (if you go this route, make extra sure you include a romantic note, too) Valentine's Day cards for family members and kids, and lots more. Also, send a little reminder of what's to come later to your loved one's inbox with a Valentine's Day ecard. Send it to your lover at work and give a hint as to what the night will bring!