How to write St.Valentine's cards

Ranked #494 in Education, #11,840 overall

St. Valentine's Day falls on February 14th each and every year. It is the day that is set aside annually for telling those that you love that you do love them. It's not a bad idea when you think about it. We get busy. Life intrudes upon love. We get so busy and so involved in all of the various aspects of life that it is easy to forget to tell that special someone just how special they really are to us.

The history of Valentines

Paper greetings with riddles or poems on them have been used in the celebration of Valentine's Day for hundreds of years. Legend has it that the original Saint Valentine was imprisoned for trying to convert people to Christianity from ancient Roman beliefs. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with the blind daughter of the jailer. Accounts vary about the original story, but some say his crime was marrying (he was a priest) soldiers when the emperor forbade them to marry. Either way, when St. Valentine was going off to be executed, he sent a note to the girl and signed it "From your Valentine". This was the first official "valentine" message. Roman men continued the practice by passing notes of love to their sweethearts on February 14th each year. In 1419, Charles, duke of Orleans, sent a valentine card to his wife from the Tower of London where he was imprisoned. This is reported to be the first true valentine card.

How to choose your Valentine Card

Feelings can be expressed in many ways, but one of the simplest, yet most effective, is through a greeting card. Valentine's Day greeting cards are available in a wide range of styles and colors for every possible need.
The first card one usually thinks of is the one chosen for a spouse or sweetheart. A card for this special person can be humorous or elegant while expressing heartfelt feelings. Humorous cards might reflect the viewpoint that the two lovebirds are together against the world. The sweethearts share everything, while the outside world threatens ominously. Or perhaps the sentiment is more down to earth, focusing on the desires of love.
Elegant cards often feature romantic poetry or prose that expresses thoughts much better than the card buyer feels they can express them. Yet when that card is received, the simple "I love you" handwritten at the bottom is often the most cherished part.
Card manufacturers also create cards to give to one's mother or father. These special people appreciate being noticed and valued. A mother gives of herself daily while caring for her young children, and continues to care and pray for them long after they leave the nest. Likewise a father is dedicated to providing for and nurturing his offspring both young and grown. A special card can express the sentiment one feels towards his or her parents more precisely than most people are able to write themselves.
Brothers and sisters are not forgotten by today's card companies either. Oftentimes siblings squabble while young, and even later. Yet there usually abides a bond between them throughout the years. That bond can be delightfully acknowledged with a well-chosen card. Sometimes brother or sister cards include a gentle teasing aspect about "the smart one" or "the athletic one." The card buyer who takes time to look through the offerings in a typical store is likely to find one that expresses the unique twist to his or her particular sibling relationship, and which does so genuinely.
In addition to brothers and sisters, in-laws, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins can be found featured on Valentine's Day greeting cards. Sometimes an aunt or uncle can be as special as one's parents. Sometimes they even function as parents for a niece or nephew. Grandparents, too, are often thrust into care taking roles. These family members will feel loved and special when they receive that well-chosen card.
Of course, friendship exists no matter what generation one lives in. Friends appreciate the acknowledgement of a valentine as much as family members do. Even if it's a humorous card with a gently teasing nature, the friend will feel loved and appreciated when he or she receives that special valentine.
Loading

How to write a Valentine Love Card

It has been said that Valentines contain words that are the most often kept and the most often burnt.
A Valentine is an expression of feelings for another person which contain your most inner feelings. It may be a forum to move your love for that special person to the next level of intimacy.
When you decide the time is right to express your feelings for that special woman or man, there are several creative ideas you may want to incorporate into your letter for added impact.
The letter you write should come from the heart. Do not worry if you are not a professional writer, what is important in the letter is that you are sincere, honest, and caring. Some basic rules should be followed in writing the Valentine.
Consider hand writing the letter in your own handwriting.
Spelling accuracy is an absolute must when writing a Valentine. Misspelled words are symbols of carelessness, which can distract from your message. Consider the message you may be sending to your loved one, when you do not take the time to look up a questionable word in the dictionary.
With regards to content, you should write from the heart with layman terms. Avoid large complicated words when a simple one will do.
The opening and closing of the Valentine are very important as they set the tone for the entire card.
Determine the stage of your love. For example, you would not want to start with "My Darling Love, Traci" if you have only dated her for two weeks. A more appropriate opening may be "To Traci, with warmest affection."
The opposite rule would apply if your love has moved into a more intimate area. You would not want to write a lesser opening and risk sending the wrong signal to your lover that may suggest you are only friends.
When closing the Valentine, it should add impact that sums up your feelings in a few words.
For example, Yours unconditionally, ... Your beloved Husband, ... My love, ... With heartfelt love, ... I long for your touch, love, ...
Closings of lesser impact may include, With warmest regards, ... With affection, ... With fondest memories, ... Until our next meeting, ... Yours truly, ...
Above all, have fun with writing to the person of your dreams. Think of the smile it would bring to your loved one to find a special Valentine from you under her/his pillow.
They are cherished by the recipient and often kept for a lifetime.
Loading

Valentine Quotes

Here are some of my favorite love quotes for Valentine's Day. Vote them and let's choose which is better!

Henry Van Dyke

Time is
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for more...1 point

Lucy Van Pelt, in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate more...1 point

Oscar Hammerstein from The Sound of Music

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song more...0 points

Leo Tolstoy

"All, everything that I understand, I underst more...0 points

In Hamlet's letter to Ophelia, William Shakespeare

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth more...0 points

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee more...0 points

A. A. Milne, from Winnie the Pooh

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be more...0 points

Rupert Brooke

A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out t more...0 points

Robert Browning

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.0 points

Virgil

Love conquers all things.0 points

Valentine Lenses

Loading

New Guestbook

submit

by

gwineth

I'm Claudia, I work as a journalist, in Rome. I spend most of the day in front of my beloved Mac and, when I'm back home, I relax cooking or planning travels... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!