Valentine’s Day Gifts
Introduction
Some people say Valentine’s Day is nothing but a commercial holiday, celebrated solely so that the economy can thrive for a couple of days. While there is undoubtedly an element of commercialization behind the celebrations of Valentine’s Day as we know them today, there is also a longstanding tradition and a legend behind them. The legend goes that Priest Valentine performed secret marriages behind the back of Roman Emperor Claudius the Second, who had forbidden this as he thought married men would not make good soldiers.
Valentine was arrested and incarcerated, and from jail, he apparently wrote a note to his own lover, entitled “From your Valentine”. Isn’t that romantic? Even if you are amongst those people who are not impressed by such a story and who still stick with the opinion that Valentine’s Day is commercial, your lover, partner or spouse might not be. There might be nothing left for you but to start browsing amongst those commercialized Valentine gifts, be it in stores or online. And by the way – you will encounter many a girl who will say that Valentine’s Day is too commercial, but very few girls who will not be enchanted and thrilled when they receive a romantic gift that very same day.
Jewelry
Jewelry is an absolute classic to give. For men, a beautiful wristwatch will do the trick – if you have a lot of money and are absolutely in love, you could go for a Rolex, although you might want to save that for a big anniversary or birthday. As a general rule, jewelry given has to be real. If you can’t afford that, don’t bother and seek amongst cheaper gift options. Giving fake jewelry is absolutely tacky and not classy at all. Tiffany’s has the most gorgeous jewelry, it will ship to several different countries and its homepage lets you order online. Every girl will be delighted to be presented with a little Tiffany box, and they do beautiful wristwatches for men as well.
When ordering, you can also select your price range, so that you find jewelry that fits into your budget. Another jeweler to look out for is Swarovski. They are less expensive but their crystal jewelry is no less divine, and they also offer online shopping. Do be careful what you give your lover. As previously stated, keep the amazingly extravagant gifts for a different, more personal occasion, unless of course you can find and afford something even more extravagant for said occasions. A Valentine’s Day gift should be classy and elegant, but not too huge. Also, a ring can be interpreted in a number of ways, so if you’re a guy, stick with the necklaces and bracelets until you really are sure you adore her.
Chocolate and Flowers
Flowers and chocolate are a perfect present for everyone and anyone, even for your friends, if you happen to be single on Valentine’s Day. It is very hard indeed to meet someone who does not like flowers, or chocolate, and the effort is minimal, because there are online florists as well as online chocolatiers who can arrange to have your gift sent to your friend or lover on Valentine’s Day. All you do is select the gift and type in your credit card number. This might be an alternative to jewelry if you don’t know the person you are giving the gift to for long yet, or if you cannot afford real jewelry.
Other options
For both men and women, it is appropriate to give a good perfume. Again, this should definitely not be a cheap one, so only give it if you can afford it. Alternatively, Lush or The Body Shop do excellent soaps and body lotions which are definitely cheaper than perfume but smell better than many a well-known perfume brand. Finally, for the hopeless romantics, there is the option of preparing something more personal – a beautiful, self-cooked candle-lit dinner at home, a photo album of your time together. You could also give your lover something more eccentric. Did you know you can now buy stars and have them named after a person you care about? That would certainly not be a very practical present, but quite a romantic one. If you are planning on proposing, Valentine’s Day is a nice date to do it.
Whatever you give, give it with love. Your partner will be delighted.