Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives
When one thinks of Valentine’s Day, romance, chocolates, cards and flowers come to mind. From stories of St. Valentines (there were several) to stories of cupid and quivers of arrows to school classroom Valentine’s Day home-made cards and sweets, we all have some connection to the day.
Celebrations, such as Valentine’s Day, provide windows to understanding the lives of our ancestors. Often cards and letters on Valentine’s Day showed expressions of love, kindness and friendship that may not have been openly expressed in Victorian times. They sometimes exposed the creative side of a person through poetry, albeit that, it may have been presented anonymously.
Cards were the traditional mode of expressing feelings on Valentine’s Day. Most expressed love or friendship. However, the vinegar valentine cards were less kind. The cheaply printed cards were designed to insult. Obviously sent anonymously, they featured exaggerated cartoons and biting rhymes that poked fun at personal habits, appearance, occupation and social standing. The receiver, not the sender, was responsible for the mailing costs.
Often cards sent to admirers were anonymous. In 1896, great, great Aunt Belle sent a “nice” Valentine to a lad back home in Ontario from North Dakota. Aunt Belle took great pains to make sure that the card did not identify her. She had the postman put another town’s post mark on it; she had another person put their address on it but, included her initials on the card. She also speculated that it would cause a great stir at home. Somehow, just knowing Aunt Belle’s reputation, the writer wonders if it really was a vinegar valentine card!
In times past, schools celebrated Valentine’s Day by students making homemade cards for each other. The cards expressed creativity, inclusivity and simple kindness. Later, purchased cards had the same goal. Parents today still patiently help little fingers address cards for the child’s classmates. Older students still practice sending secret admirers anonymous cards just because… Sweet treats were part of and are still part of the day. In yesteryear, often a Red Cross meeting was also part of the day. Valentine’s Day was and still is special in schools as it provides opportunities for social connections.
In today’s commercialised world, the emphasis has become on flowers, chocolates or other expensive items. Valentine’s Day is the most popular day for selling flowers, particularly red roses. Mother’s Day is second.
Come to the Middlesex Centre Archives and check our scrapbook collections to see how Valentine’s Day was celebrated in your community or family. Was there a dance? A community event? Check our collection of Valentine Day cards. See if your family still has some Valentine mementos saved in long forgotten boxes. Ask your family how past generations celebrated the day.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
