Valentine’s Day: Remembering The Unique Amongst The Universal

Lovers express their affection to each other on 14th February in many countries around the world and many symbols of Valentine’s Day are universally represented – Cupid and his arrow, courting birds, red roses, locks and keys, and of course the ubiquitous heart.

Some traditions around the world are not as well-known to us: In Slovenia, the belief endures that plants and flowers start to grow on the day of Saint Valentine, who was one of the saints of spring, good health and the patron of beekeepers. The work in the vineyards and fields begins for the year, and people walk barefoot through the fields to watch the birds, who are thought to propose to each other on this day!

Danish men send women anonymous gaekkebrev, or ‘joke letters’ – funny poems written on intricately cut paper and decorated with snowdrops. The sender indicates his name simply with dots, one for each letter of his name. If the recipient guesses his identity, she is owed an Easter egg on Easter Sunday.

In Wales, beautifully carved wooden spoons have traditionally been given to young women by their suitors, to demonstrate both their skill and romantic intent. Symbols such as hearts, horseshoes, wheels, locks, caged balls and anchors were carved into the spoons, making them unique while also conveying a message to the recipient.

Visit Italy around Valentine’s Day and you will see little padlocks, or lucchetti dell’amore, attached to bridges and railings. To ensure that their love will last forever, Italian lovers write their names on these padlocks and toss the key into the river below.

While such rituals can make us smile, the feeling of needing to conform can sometimes seem stifling. So it is in remembering and celebrating the uniqueness of your couple, its story that is unlike any other, that you can forget the world around you for a while and rejoice in each other. What better way to show your closeness than to pick out a gift that offers a mirror to that special something.

We have a myriad of jewellery and timepieces to help you with your choice, but only you will know your each other well enough to make Valentine’s Day uniquely yours.