Valentines, Anyone?

 Post by Doris McCraw

writing as Angela Raines

Do you remember giving Valentine cards when you were younger? I remember those little cards that we would give each other. But where did the whole thing start? According to History.com there are three possible origin stories. All had the name of Valentine or Valentinus. All were men of the cloth. One defied the emperor Claudius decree that young men could not marry. One was a bishop who also defied the emperor. The third was believed to be helping prisoners to escape Roman prisons. All were killed for their actions.

As we move forward, the story of these men caught the imagination of many for their actions. In the middle 1400s written 'Valentines' began. 

Fast forward to 1847 when Esther Howland began to mass-produce embossed paper lace valentines. The story is, she was inspired by a card she received from a business associate of her father, who owned a book and stationery store in Worchester, Massachusetts. From there the rest is history. 

I thought perhaps you'd like to see how it was in Colorado in the 1800s. Below are some pieces from Colorado papers.

The Brush Lariat, February 14,  1885 

The Durango Wage Earner
February 9, 1899

The Colorado Daily Chieftain, February 5, 1896

However you celebrate Valentine's Day, may it be filled with love and some great romance books.