Great Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
Cynics say that Valentine's Day is a fallacy invented by the
greeting cards industry to increase our overdraft, just in case
the Christmas credit card bill is starting to subside. Arguably
the worst thing about Valentine's Day is hitting the shops,
usually at the last minute, to join everyone else in a manic
search for a tasteful gift. If the thought of Oxford Street on
13 February makes you feel ill then sort out your Valentine's
Day gifts by shopping online this year.
Brief History of Valentine's Day
What is so special about 14 February? Theories on the subject
abound, but this one is just too romantic to ignore. Although
the Catholic Church currently recognises three different saints
named Valentine who were martyred on 14 February, the most
likely contender is a Roman priest from the third century,
Bishop Valentine. At this time, Emperor Claudius feared that
young men who were married were less likely to join his legions
of soldiers than single men, so he banned marriage. However, the
Catholic Bishop Valentine believed that marriage was a holy
institution desired by God, so he secretly continued to marry
young couples. Claudius discovered that Valentine was disobeying
his orders, so he was thrown in jail. There, he fell in love
with his jailer's daughter, and legend has it that he sent her a
note, shortly before his death, signed "From Your Valentine".
Proposing on Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day is the perfect day to propose to your loved one,
and everyone knows that the perfect proposal is accompanied by
the perfect ring. One of the best-known high street jewellers in
the UK is H.Samuel, and you can be sure that you will find
something to suit your taste and budget from their range. Their
engagement ring selection is ordered by price, metal, stone
setting and brand for easy browsing and their Forever Diamonds (
htt
p://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/56+4294966913 )
range takes an interesting twist on the engagement ring by
engraving the word 'FOREVER' on the inside of the band. What's
more, the 'O' of Forever is set with a twinkling brilliant cut
diamond, to make it an extra special life-long gift for
Valentines day. Of course, finding the right engagement ring is
something you will want to put significant time and effort into.
Another of the UK's leading jewellers, Ernest Jones ( http://www.ernestjones.co.uk ), will help with your decision by providing expert advice on
what to look for when selecting a diamond ring. From choosing
the shape of the diamond to getting the correct ring size,
taking the time to do your research beforehand will give you
extra peace of mind as you pluck up the courage to ask the big
question.
Valentine's Cards
Even if you're not proposing come February 14th, a Valentines
card is still a great way to mark the occasion. A great way to
make your card meaningful, without breaking the bank, is to
create a card yourself, and there are loads of great websites to
help you.
If you want a real-life, physical card, it's easy to find a
website where, for just a few quid, you can choose from a
selection of cards from recognised brands such as Me to You, and
then personalise them as much as you like by changing the words
and colours on the card. You can even upload your own
photographs. Then have the printed card sent either to you, or
better still, have it sent anonymously direct to your recipient.
There are even sites which are completely free. Many have an
enormous range of cards for Valentine's Day and you're bound to
find something suitable to be emailed to your sweetheart.
Inexpensive and Creative Valentine's Gifts
* Make a book of vouchers for your partner, including a voucher
to spend a day with his mates or with her girly friends, a
voucher to get out of an argument for free, a voucher for a
massage after a long day, or anything else you can think of.
* Take the time to create a playlist for their iPod, so on a
miserable journey to work they can be cheered up by a whole hour
of meaningful songs that will remind them of special times.
* Dig out all your old photos, and create a collage of all of
the best photos of the two of you.
Say it with Flowers
If your other half has traditional taste, a bouquet of flowers
makes a romantic, old-fashioned Valentine's Day gift. Probably
the best known name in the floral world is Interflora, which
encompasses a huge network of florists nationwide. You can order
online, or call your local florist to discuss what you would
like. There is a growing trend for women to buy flowers for men
on Valentine's Day. Interflora has a great selection of designer
arrangements, which might just hit the spot.