Valentine’s Day is a day of love – The day when lovers send one other a card and give each other presents to show how much they care. Do you know another name for Valentine’s day is St. Valentine’s Day. The original purpose of the festival has changed to emphasize love amongst family members and friends. And, as the Valentine’s day got popular so did the Valentine’s Day Symbols.
What Are Valentine’s Day Symbols?
Valentine’s Day is often linked with many symbols – from hearts to Cupid to birds to roses and so many more. Though, there are several minor Valentine’s Day symbols, but there are six most strongly linked symbols with Valentines. Here are the details about these Valentine’s Day symbols, their history, and their meanings:
Valentine’s Day Symbols: What Do They Mean & How They Originated
1. A Red Rose
One of the most prevalent Valentine’s Day Symbols is Red Rose. Roses symbolize beauty and love. As it is known as the “flower of love,” it should come as no surprise that roses are used to woo a girl or convey a romantic message. Though each color of rose has a different meaning. Red rose is mostly accepted as a symbol of romantic love! (Also Read: Best Rose Day Wishes for your special one to express your love in a most special way)
2. Cupid
Another Valentine’s Day symbol is Cupid. Cupid is equated with lust, sexual love, attraction, and affection. He is frequently depicted as the child of the deity of battle Mars and the goddess of love Venus. What does cupid look like? The cute, chubby, and naked baby endowed with wings and the quiver on the back goes back to Greek mythology.
People would be struck by Cupid’s arrows when under his emotional power. He is seen as a cunning angel with the ability to shoot two different sorts of arrows: one that causes people to fall in love, and the other that causes them to turn against one another.
3. Dove and Love birds
Doves are made for mates for a lifetime and are considered a symbol of long-lasting love. Love birds, symbolism dates back to the Middle Ages, as it is commonly known that a pair of birds symbolize true love. Doves are an eternally appealing symbol of love and peace on Valentine’s Day.
Why are these birds considered so, well, lovey-dovey? The connection goes back to the Middle Ages when people thought that on Valentine’s Day, all birds made their partner selections. Like Love Birds, Couples typically mate for life and are usually very affectionate. Love birds generally sit together and groom or pet their other. We use the same phrase to describe analogous human behavior because of these overt displays of affection.
Another, reason behind dove as Valentine’s day symbol could be because of their religious significance as they are commonly observed in churches.
4. Valentine’s Day Cards
One of the most common presents on Valentine’s day is a card expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to the love interests. People have been writing love letters to one other since the dawn of time. Since Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, it seems natural that Valentine’s Day cards serve as a symbol of the occasion. (Also Read: Best Valentine’s Day Card Messages for your special one)
5. Love Knots and Red Ribbons
The knots of love, which are symbols of eternal love, are made up of a series of braids and knots that have no beginning or end. The knots of love associated with Valentine’s Day are thought to have originated in Celtic or ancient Arab cultures.
Red Ribbons symbolizes love and romantic feelings. These ribbons might have their roots in handkerchiefs that women in the past deliberately abandoned hundreds of years ago. They were picked up by men they secretly loved from the ground. Ribbons have become a common addition to the chocolate basket and Valentine’s postcards over time.
6. Chocolate
Saved, the best for the last. Well, who doesn’t love chocolate? Do you know its special meaning and why it is given to you on valentines? Chocolate is believed to have a chemical that arouses desire and makes the lover more open to romance. In the olden days, this resulted in the tradition of European royalty giving their lovers chocolates mixed with amber to stimulate their love.
Here’s a scientific fact: Eating Dark Chocolate releases Phenylethylamine and Serotonin. When people experience love, the chemical Phenylethylamine, which is similar to amphetamine, is produced in the brain. The release of which is helped along by Serotonin, the combination of the increased levels of these chemicals induces feelings of love.
There are many other Valentine’s day symbols but, the above mentioned are the most prevalent ones. And, as you know the meaning of each symbol now, what are you waiting for? Go for a quick shopping and grab these symbols to express your love to the special one without any delay!