Some folks assume I’ve taken this self-love factor just a little too far. I admit it isn’t everyone who as soon as purchased herself a sterling silver flask inscribed “I Love You.” (What can I say? It was cute.) However with Valentine’s Day approaching, I believe we must always take a contemporary take a look at this complete romantic gift-giving factor.

First off, the gauzy pink aura that envelops February 14 belies the vacation’s scandalous historical past. As legend has it, two guys who would each turn out to be saints, and each named Valentine, have been executed on February 14 beneath Roman Emperor Claudius II. Considered one of these fellows, Saint Valentine of Terni, allegedly officiated at secret weddings for Roman troopers which irritated the emperor.  He additionally as soon as wrote a love letter to a younger woman and signed it “Out of your Valentine,” which is how this phrase got here right down to us. (This can be a good story, however frankly I’ve my doubts.)

The extra you look into this, the more serious it will get. Apparently there was additionally an historical Roman fertility competition known as Lupercalia, a mid-February bacchanalia that featured bare Roman clergymen working the streets and gently slapping (what?!) ladies with bloody animal hides. As if this weren’t unhealthy sufficient, after the paddling these luckless females have been paired with males by lottery. Pope Gelasius put an finish to those lurid hijinks, and is it’s generally thought that he changed this debauchery with the vastly extra respectable St. Valentine’s Day.

However sufficient hidden historical past! Regardless of the gross again story, the day has come right down to us as a time to rejoice romantic love, with a reward of flowers, sweet—or at the least a card!—or better of all, lovely jewellery, usually heart-shaped. This image, whether or not rendered in paste or platinum, rhinestones or actual stones, is absolutely the embodiment of a critical love token. (Give it some thought—if that particular person you imagine you might be in a causal relationship with exhibits up in your doorstep with a heart-shaped bauble, would this not point out that they want to take issues to an entire different degree?)

Right here then, a cavalcade of our favourite heart-shaped jewels—perhaps, simply perhaps, somebody will take your broad trace—a print-out pinned to a pillow?—and are available by on the massive day with one in every of these glittering prizes. Then once more, if this isn’t the yr love has blossomed, you’ll be able to all the time give a coronary heart to that particular particular person in your life—your self.

Rings

Necklaces

Earrings

Bracelets