Tips and Ideas for Guys for a Beautiful Valentine's Day

Table of Contents 

A Very Brief History of Valentine's Day - Sort of

Celebrating Valentine's Day - A Modest Proposal

Planning a Great Valentines Date

Making Dinner Reservations on Valentine's Day

Something's Cooking

Late for a Very Important Date?

If You Can't Be With the One You Love

Plan for a Wonderful Day Together

The Best Laid Plans

Avoiding Gift Anxiety

Choosing A Special Gift for Your Wife

Choosing an Appropriate Gift for Your Girlfriend

Romantic Valentine's Day Gifts

Flowers for Valentines

Unique Valentine's Day Gifts

Inexpensive Gifts

Homemade Valentines Gifts

Choosing a Valentine's Card

Traveling for Valentine's Day

Where Would We Be Without Friends?

The Best Gift You Can Give

Poems to Warm Her Heart

A Very Brief History of Valentine's Day - Sort of...

Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart.~ Lamartine

Valentine's Day is drawing near, that day that melts the deep winter frost in the warmth of love... 

At least that's the theory. Yet just as mysterious and accidental as love itself is the relationship of St. Valentine to the customs of the day named for him.

Legends abound regarding the origins of Valentine's Day. Some relate it to an ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia, which apparently occurred on February 15th, not the 14th. 

The spoil-sport Encyclopedia Britannica, in the authoritative 11th edition of 1911, states, "Their appropriateness to the spring season is, in a general way perhaps, obvious enough, but the association of the lovers' festivals with St Valentine seems to be purely accidental."

As if that wasn't enough, this esteemed reference goes on to tell us there was more than one St. Valentine. "...VALENTINE, or VALENTINUS, the name of a considerable number of saints. The most

celebrated are the two martyrs whose festivals fall on the 14th of February - the one, a Roman priest, the other, bishop of Terni..." (Vol. 27, pp. 850-851)

According to the less authoritative Wikipedia, Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales, was the first to connect Valentine's Day with romantic love, in his poem, Parliament of Fowls, written to commemorate the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, which happened on May 3, 1381.

Yes, that's right, May 3rd. You see that was another St. Valentine's day on the Church calendar. He went on to write a couple more poems referencing Valentine's Day in connection with May 3rd.

At any rate, by the end of his life, it all got sorted out, and the date became associated with the 14th of February. But if you do forget, and are really brave enough, you can use this UCLA professor as your

source to try for a 70 day grace period.

Let us know how it works.

As far as we know, the first Valentine contained a small poem written by Charles, the Duke of Orleans, to his wife, from his prison cell in the Tower of London. He had been captured during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Things sort of quieted down for a few hundred years afterwards.

There is little mention of the day or celebrations of it in the historical records.

Valentine's Day sort of re-emerged in the late 1840's in America, when the New Englander Esther Howland created and sold the first mass produced Valentine cards in her father's book and stationary

store. She is now a hero to the Greeting Card Association, which claims that Valentine's is the 2nd largest card sending occasion.

Celebrating Valentine's Day - A Modest Proposal

Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. ~ Boethius

While the 3rd of May is a bit long to wait, consider this alternative. You may enjoy celebrating Valentine's Day but get annoyed or stressed out if you try to celebrate it on February 14th. This is because one of the most popular ways to celebrate Valentine's Day is by going out to dinner. Restaurants are often overcrowded and have long waits to be seated.

Some restaurants do not take reservations for February 14th and even the ones that do often have difficulty honoring them when huge crowds show up. Many couples choose to celebrate Valentine's Day by going out to dinner a day or two late or even a day or two early. There is nothing wrong with this and you can enjoy a much more relaxing celebration.

If you are planning to go out to dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day but are having trouble making reservations, consider making your reservations for the day before or after, or the first weekend after

Valentine's Day. This will give you additional options and make your planning easier. However, consult your partner to make sure she won't be disappointed if you celebrate this lover's holiday a day or two early

or late.

For many women, it's important to observe the actual date.

And you don't want to ruin your relationship over Valentine's Day! Of course, even if she doesn't mind, it's still a good idea to spring for a box of chocolates or a few roses on the 14th. You gotta keep her

happy! 

If your beloved will be extremely disappointed about celebrating Valentine's Day on another date, you might alter your plans rather than delay them. Actually, scratch that "might". Don't even think

about upsetting your lover over Valentine's Day! Just make other arrangements. For example if you want to avoid having to wait more than an hour for a table at a fancy restaurant, try cooking a great

meal for her instead.

You will still be celebrating in a really fun way but won't have the stress of dealing with a crowded restaurant. 

Sometimes it's not merely a matter of convenience that makes it necessary to celebrate Valentine's Day a day or two early or late. You or your partner may have an unusual work schedule which would

make getting together on the 14th extremely difficult. As a case in point (pardon the pun), doctors may work long shifts during the week which can interfere with Valentine's Day plans. If you or your partner

are in this situation, discuss Valentine's Day ahead of time and figure out what will work best for the two of you. You might decide to celebrate few days late or even agree to just exchange cards or gifts for Valentine's Day.

Whatever you decide make sure it is a decision which makes you both happy. 

If you are planning to celebrate Valentine's Day a day or two late you should still treat your celebration with all of the excitement and enthusiasm you would have on the 14th of February. If your wife or girlfriend would buy a new dress, or get her nails or hair done for Valentine's Day you should encourage her to do it for this occasion as well. It will help to make the celebration feel more fun and exciting. 

Remember, there's no reason you have to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. Observing it a day or so early or late can be just as thoughtful and romantic. Truly, this is one occasion when it's the

thought that counts.

Planning a Great Valentines Date

The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of. ~ Blaise Pascal

For a lot of guys, Valentine's Day is the one day of the year where we want to have a special date and show our partner how much we love and care for her. Many men have a great deal of trouble planning how to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Maybe they feel pressure trying to plan a fabulous or “perfect” date or just don't know how to plan a great date on an ordinary day, and are particularly stressed about such an important occasion. Whichever the case, here are a few ideas for a designing...

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