About Valentine's Day
From Saint Valentine’s Day. (2018). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
Saint Valentine’s Day, holiday honoring lovers. It is celebrated February 14 by the custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love. The holiday probably derives from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalis (February 15). The festival gradually became associated with the feast day (February 14) of two Roman martyrs, both named St. Valentine, who lived in the 3d century. St. Valentine is regarded as the patron saint of lovers.
From St. Valentine’s Day. (2022). Salem Press Encyclopedia.
The story of what has become the year's most romantic day, February 14, began in a decidedly unromantic way, with the early Christian martyrs. The histories of early Christian martyrs mention at least two saints named Valentine associated with February 14. One of them is described as a priest of Rome and another as a bishop of a city called Interamna. Both men suffered martyrdom in the second half of the third century CE.
Little is known of either of the most commonly mentioned Valentines. The few known facts of their lives are so interwoven with undocumented traditions that it is impossible to separate fact from legend. The theories about how the name Valentine came to be connected with the day on which lovers send gifts to one another also are varied. One is based on the belief throughout rural Europe during the Middle Ages that the birds began to mate on February 14.
Vinegar Valentines
Care to send a card to someone you dislike? "Vinegar Valentines" were sent in the 19th and early 20th Centuries using caricatures and rude poems to insult the recipient.
From Martinelli, P. A. (2008, February 1). How don’t I love thee? vinegar valentines count the ways. Antiques & Collecting Magazine:
Dubbed "vinegar valentines," these cynical, sarcastic, often mean-spirited greeting cards were first produced in America as early as the 1840s by a variety of printing companies including Elton, Fisher, Strong and Turner. By the 1870s, other entrepreneurs such as New York printer, John McLoughlin, and his cartoonist, Charles Howard were creating their own lines. While different European companies also produced the humorous cards in the early 19th century, one of the most prestigious firms to create them around 1900 was Raphael Tuck & Sons, "Publishers to Their Majesties the King and Queen of England."
Pity a Poor Wounded Heart
Vinegar Valentine's Card, c1875. Shows a man bearing a picture of a heart struck by arrows and the title 'Pity a Poor Wounded Heart'. Bears message:
'Tis said you share your love with many.
But I believe you have not any
At least enough to give away.
You keep it for yourself they say.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Here's a heart pierced through and through
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a woman reading a valentine's message, who has apparently dropped a tub of laundry. Bears message:
'Here's a heart pierced through and through,
I'm sure that greatly pleases you,
But listen -- only keep it dark,
Some fellow sent it for a lark.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
So sweetly you smile, I feel often inclined
Vinegar Valentine's Card, c1875. Shows a woman in a red dress. Bears message:
'So sweetly you smile, I feel often inclined,
To make you an offer, but then I change my mind,
For to tell you the truth, I have heard people say.
That in jilting your lovers you've rather a way.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
The kiss of the bottle is your heart's delight
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a drunken man holding on to a lamp post. Bears message:
'The kiss of the bottle is your heart's delight,
And fuddled you reel home to bed every night,
What care you for damsels, no matter how fair!
Apart from your liquor, you've no love to spare.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Your lines are cast in pleasant ways
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a man in top hat and tails holding a baby and pushing two other infants in a pram. Bears message:
'Your lines are cast in pleasant ways,
Right merrily you pass your days,
Your life must be, one round of bliss,
What joys poor single fellows miss.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Here's a pretty cool reception
Vinegar valentine's card, c1875. Shows a young woman throwing a bucket of water at a man. Bears message:
'Here's a pretty cool reception,
At least you'll say there's no deception,
It says as plain as it can say,
Old fellow you'd best stop away.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
A married man's delights are doubled
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a miserable man holding a baby, while scolded by his wife. Bears message:
'A married man's delights are doubled,
His life's so smooth he's never troubled,
His missus never scolds -- Oh never,
But wears a smiling aspect ever.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Pray do you ever mend your clothes
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a miserable woman holding several books:
'Pray do you ever mend your clothes,
Or comb your hair? Well, I suppose
You've got no time, for people, say,
You're reading novels all the day.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Why do they call you a nasty old cat
Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a middle aged woman looking at a drawing of a cat in female dress. Bears message:
'Why do they call you a nasty old cat,
And say many things a deal ruder than that,
'Tis from envy perhaps of your manifold graces,
How would it not please you to claw in their faces'.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
A Duck and Geese
A Duck and Geese. Vinegar Valentine's card, c1875. Shows a woman being pulled along by two gees bearing male human heads. Cupid dances behind her. Bears message:
'With Cupid ready to assist you,
What mortal is there can resist you?
You drive the men like silly geese?
And leave them neither ease nor peace.'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Love Among the Roses
Love Among the Roses. Vinegar valentine's card, c1875. Shows a young woman and her male lover by a rose bush. The woman flees as her father drenches the man with a watering can. Bears message:
'After dinner 'pa reposes,
Then 'tis sweet among the roses
To meet your love, but suppose
Pa wakens up. Ah' then who knows'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
No Reasonable Offer Refused
No Reasonable Offer Refused. Vinegar valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a small man in an open cabinet, surrounded by several women. Bears message:
'I hope my dapper little friend
That you'll get offers without end
With you the ladies are quite taken
Or I am very much mistaken'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Don't Imagine Anyone Will Take You for a Gentleman
Don't Imagine Anyone Will Take You for a Gentleman. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a ruddy faced man smoking. A woman in the background looks at him warily.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Waiting for an Offer
Waiting for an Offer. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a woman waiting impatiently by a church.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Can You Refuse Me?
Vinegar valentine's card showing a man wearing a top hat and a monocle bearing a riding crop. Behind him, two jockeys are racing their horses. Message on bottom of image states 'Can You Refuse Me?'
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Wait a Little Longer
Wait a Little Longer. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a woman walking away from her shocked suitor after having rejected his offer of marriage.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Must Settle Down Sometime, But Won't Throw Himself Away Too Early
Must Settle Down Sometime, But Won't Throw Himself Away Too Early. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a haggard whiskered man leaning against a bar, smoking.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Are you still nineteen?
Are you still nineteen? Vinegar Valentine's Card, 19th century. Shows a woman of advancing years.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
That's How You Spend Your Time
That's How You Spend Your Time. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a man standing at a bar while a barmaid pulls his beer.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
Proud beauty you'd best lay aside
Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a woman with a peacock's tail. Bears message:
'Proud beauty you'd best lay aside
Your nonsense and your peacock pride,
Or some will have the pluck to say,
"Fair lady will you name the day"
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
It Isn't Fine Feathers that Make Fine Birds
It Isn't Fine Feathers that Make Fine Birds. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a pompous looking man wearing a monocle and yellow gloves.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
That's all You're Good For
That's all You're Good For. Vinegar Valentine's card, 19th century. Shows a young man on some rocks at the seaside peering through a telescope.
Credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
