Let Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets Help You Carry on the Valentine’s Day Tradition with Unique Gift Baskets for the “Love of Your Life”.

Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets, Virginia’s award winning gift basket company, offers a short history of the traditions of the holiday and recommendations for Valentine’s gifts that will leave your loved ones delighted.

Williamsburg, VA (PRWEB) February 3, 2005

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Lovers, sweethearts, and friends celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14th by exchanging cards, chocolates, flowers, and other gifts. It is a romantic day for lovers and a fun day for children. Do you ever wonder how it all got started? Here are the stories behind the traditions courtesy of Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets.

One popular legend is about a priest named Valentine. Around 270 A.D., Emperor Claudius II was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his army. He believed that married men did not want to leave their wives and families. The Emperor declared that single young men make better soldiers than married men, and he outlawed marriage. Valentine disagreed with Claudius’s theory and continued to secretly perform marriages for young men and women. When Claudius found out, he ordered Valentine’s death. While Valentine was awaiting execution, he befriended his jailer’s daughter. Before he was beheaded, he wrote a farewell letter to the young woman and signed it “Your Valentine.” Hence, the sentiment we still see on cards today. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14th, Valentine’s execution date, as a day to honor him. There are many variations of this legend.

Many historians believe the first poetic Valentine card was sent in 1415 by a young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was an accomplished poet and writer. During the Hundred Years War, he was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and imprisoned in the Tower of London. While imprisoned he sent love letters to his wife in France. Later his poetic writings came to be known as Valentines.

England's King Henry VIII declared February 14th to be “St. Valentine’s Day” by Royal Charter in 1537. By the end of the 18th century, the British celebrated Valentine’s Day by exchanging sentiments on handmade cards. The Valentine tradition did not become popular in the United States until the 1840’s when Esther Howland, a Mount Holyoke College student, began handcrafting and mass producing them for sale. Modern Valentine cards range from sentimental, romantic greetings to humorous, sometimes off-beat greetings. You’ll even find romantic musical greeting cards. With the dawn of the internet, don’t forget your electronic Valentine’s greeting cards.

Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets can help you carry on the traditions of this romantic holiday. Show your sweetheart your good taste by sending our Sweet Love gift basket. These delicious chocolates will melt her heart. Give her a scrumptious chocolate gift tower from our Harry and David collection or our Chocolate Decadence collection. Or, show her how special she is with an exquisite Love Interlude basket filled with a wonderful array of bath products and romantic music. To view all of our gift selections, visit: http://www.fabulous-gifts-baskets.com/Valentines-Day-Gift-Baskets.htm. Order now to ensure your on-time Valentine’s Day delivery!

About Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets:

Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets is a family owned and operated business based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The entire Affordable Delights family is dedicated to expressing our clients’ feelings in an appropriate and caring manner. Each of our gift baskets, gift towers and gift selections, large or small, has been designed and packaged to provide its recipient that special feeling only a personal touch can give.

Contact Information:

Anda Wood

Affordable Delights Gifts & Gift Baskets

877-783-2800

757-564-3940

http://www.fabulous-gifts-baskets.com

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