1. Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century.
2. The first Valentine's Day was in 496 AD, and it was the church that named 14 February as Valentine’s day.
3. The oldest account of a Valentine's Day poem is one that was written in 1415 by Charles, the Duke of Orleans after he had written a poem to his wife when he was imprisoned. He referred to his wife as his valentine – for which now is a term synonymous with the occasion.
4. Millions of greeting cards are exchanged every year – over 30 million in the UK alone, making it the second largest occasion for cards behind Christmas
5. Retail firms say over £1 billion is spent on Valentine’s Day worldwide!
6. London is the most romantic UK City according to retail figures, with the average person spending £40 on the occasion.
7. In 2022, the top, most-searched-for Valentine / romantic movie was The Tamarind Seed! Followed by Educating Rita and the Notting Hill.
Celebrated annually on the 14th of February, Valentine's Day is celebrated by couples worldwide. And the significance has completely changed since the occasion first emerged many centuries ago. The day gets its name from an infamous saint in the 3rd century who took it upon himself to underpin the meaning of the day, thus leaving his legacy by being named after the day itself.
Around the time of the 3rd century, an Emperor by the name of Claudius put a ban on marriage because, in his mind, he thought that married men made the worst type of soldier. Valentine then stepped in and started to conduct marriage ceremonies in secret. The secret was eventually exposed, and Valentine was sent to jail and then ultimately sentenced to death. Whilst in jail, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. He was eventually killed on the 14th of February, but on this day, he also sent a love letter to the jailer’s daughter, which was signed “with love, from your valentine”,… Thus creating his legacy for an occasion that is second only to Christmas.
Fast forward to the modern day, and Valentine's Day has a much broader significance, and it’s estimated that the net spend on this day is in the billions across the world! And so, it’s no surprise that it’s the second most popular occasion to celebrate on the calendar – behind Christmas.
Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the Roman Times, but the first Valentine's cards were sent in the 18th century, and it was the Victorians who turned this annual event into the romantic occasion it is today.
Initially, Valentine's cards were handmade, as pre-made cards were not available. People would exchange elaborately made cards decorated with lace, romantic symbols, cupids, flowers, love knots and lines of poetry.
Great question! So much of what we are encouraged to buy for Valentine's Day gifts is designed to last only a few days. Flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day may be considered traditional, but gifts like these can be wasteful and only last a short time.
Did you know a dozen red roses costs on average £60? Add a box of chocolates, and you are close to £75. You can consider many gifts for Valentine's Day. Gifts that will last for many years.
The best gifts are those that are ethical, sustainable, and thoughtful to the planet. The time of giving gifts with a short shelf-life is in the past, instead being replaced with the ethos of buy well, buy less.
Choosing a handmade gift from our collection will give him joy on the day and many days of pleasure well after the occasion has passed.
You have arrived at the right page if you are seeking a long-lasting, special vegan gift for him. Our collection of handmade vegan accessories is filled with unique vegan presents that he will love and cherish for years to come.
The ultimate present aligns with someone's values but is also beautifully made and functional for every day.
Our range of handcrafted wallets are made with a high-quality corn-based alternative to leather, are 100% cruelty-free and arrive wrapped in a plastic-free Watson & Wolfe gift box.If you want to spend a little more, our best-selling
travel document holders make the perfect vegan gift for men. Each item is handmade with innovative materials which are tactile, durable, and easy to clean.
It can be challenging to think of the ideal gift for Valentine’s Day, but we can simplify that process with our decades of experience in luxury leather goods.
Personalised Valentine's gifts for him include the timeless gift of a personalised wallet or card holder; these items are among the best gifts you can give for Valentine’s Day, not only to mark the occasion but for practicality, too.When you buy a personalised Valentine's gift for her, like the handcrafted Portman Purse, you will truly capture the essence of the day while giving a thoughtful and long-lasting gift.Many of our card holders, wallets, and gifts can be personalised with your chosen initials, and the embossed lettering can be added to the front, bottom right-hand corner.
The service takes 3-5 days to complete fully, but if you are ordering late and require the item much faster and in time for Valentine’s Day, please get in touch with us.
Click here to see all the items which can be personalised.
