Valentine’s Day, we say about Valentine’s Day, the opportunity to declare or show your love once a year for the one you love, by offering flowers among the gifts traditionally linked to this date of February 14, which marketing has taken hold of. Between those who, precisely, refuse to be trapped by this commercial event and those who see an opportunity to show their partner that their feelings still vibrate just as intensely, it is up to each of them to position themselves. Whether you want to give flowers on Valentine’s Day or another day, to tell the other how much you love them, here are some suggestions…
The origin of Valentine’s Day
Historically, in the 14th century the Catholics of Great Britain declared February 14 as the feast of lovers since folklore wanted it to be also on this date that the birds mate. On that day, moreover, women could indulge in “valentinage”, that is to say, transgress the rules of marriage by having sex outside marriage or with their lover if they were married. Despite this, and turning a blind eye to this practice, the Church made Valentin de Terni the patron saint of lovers.
The custom continued but it was not until the middle of the 19th century that Valentine’s Day became a commercial holiday in the United States before it was exported to Europe, then becoming a secular holiday.
A woman’s or a man’s bouquet of lovers?
The cliché of Valentine’s Day with the man offering a bouquet of red roses, red underwear or perfume, is dying, however, more and more women are taking the initiative which is not to displease their husband. In unmarried couples, homosexual couples, and even teenage love affairs, the same is true.
According to a survey* carried out from January 28 to 29, 2021, 30% of the couple population will not celebrate Valentine’s Day, and among the youngest couples (18-24 years old), only 14% will do so. ‘dead end ! But among those who will mark this romantic evening, the men will offer flowers as the first choice of gift (40%), but not necessarily roses which remain the preferred choice…
What flowers to give for Valentine’s Day instead of roses?
If your florist has no more red roses, if you want to break the codes or if you are sensitive to the carbon footprint of your purchases, you will have to opt for other flowers. Don’t feel guilty, it’s not a problem, the choice is wide enough in the language of flowers to express your feelings with at least as much ardor or sensitivity!
It will not have escaped you, in February no rose is in bloom here; florists import them from the Netherlands, an international hub for the flower trade, making the country both the world’s leading importer and exporter of flowers. So the roses that arrive from Holland have only transited there from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ecuador, etc. Not only is the environmental cost not an advantage, but neither are the social conditions of production.
Although the mention of the origin of the flowers is not compulsory, florists who offer local, fair trade and/or organic cut flowers display it: favor their initiative, if possible, with flowers normally grown in France, more particularly in the Var for the most part, which will say a lot about your emotion…
Red tulips are a declaration of love, the anemone marks reciprocal trust and affection, the buttercups express joy and charm but without frivolity, the camellia will seal your couple since it evokes the perfection of lasting love. and beauty, nothing less, the white hellebore will oblige you, it’s a marriage proposal!
If you like mimosa and broom, know that yellow is synonymous with jealousy: is it the day? Up to you…
* Survey conducted online by YouGov for femina.fr among 1,008 people representative of the French national population aged 18 and over.