ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Have a vintage Valentine’s Day
Looking to history for inspiration, it is not surprising that the
Victorian is so popular among romantics. The Victorians celebrated
Valentine’s Day in spectacular style, and with a breadth and depth of
meaning that eclipses some of the half-baked Valentine’s gifts of today.
In Victorian times, it was good form to keep emotions strictly under
wraps, and so Valentine’s Day allowed a rare opportunity to express
one’s true feelings, albeit furtively. The language of flowers, or
floriography, soon became immensely important, and flowers were no
longer chosen just for their appearance or colour, but for what they
represented as part of a coded language.
Many flowers had multiple meanings, which surely confused matters! Such
as the daffodil, which was said to mean regard, but also unrequited
love. The red rose however could never be mistaken for anything other
than an expression of a strong or passionate love, whereas paler
flowers, like pink roses and carnations tend to stand for perfect
happiness, and white flowers like daisies and lilies signified a purity
and chasteness.
If you would like to send a coded message to your loved one this
Valentine’s Day, why not consult a specialist floriography site or book
for these traditional and romantic meanings, and see if your loved one
can decode the message in your Valentine’s flowers! Specialist florists
can often supply even the rarest of flowers, so you may be surprised as
to the number of traditional historical bouquets you can recreate in the
modern day. Try online florists like Interflora who source their flowers
worldwide, for the largest available selection of
valentines flowers.
But it was not just flowers that held great sway among the more romantic
Victorians. Victorian Valentine’s cards were some of the most intricate
and ostentatious that you will ever come across. Often containing or
alluding to some kind of secret message, these cards, thanks to new
advances in printing techniques, were more elaborate than had ever been
seen before.
And a handmade card was all the better. Using lace, baubles, intricately
cut paper, and even three-dimensional designs, the Victorians used these
cards to win over the one they loved. These cards were meant to be
treasured as keepsakes, such was their detail, and there is nothing
stopping you from creating your own Victorian-style card that will whisk
your loved one away to a more romantic era.
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