The First Valentines

“Bee My Valentine,” requests a little honey of an insect on the small square piece of card stock. That's a sweet sentiment, but why do we have Valentine's day? The reason depends on whether you believe legend or prefer something more tangible.

Three possible St. Valentines could be the man responsible for why we celebrate the holiday. If you believe there is a grain of truth hidden in the stuff of legend, then it was one of those gentlemen who wrote the first valentine back in approximately 269 A.D. It’s been said that while this Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter and wrote her a love letter, signing it “From your Valentine”.

Then there was a love letter, complete with poetry, written by the French Duke of Orleans, Charles, to his wife. This letter was written while he was incarcerated in the Tower of London. He was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and probably thought he was to be executed at any moment. He actually stayed in the Tower for twenty-five years and died a free man in 1465. This letter, along with much of the duc d’Orleans’ poetic works, can be found in the British Museum’s manuscript collection. None of his work could really be called a Valentine poem, so this can be debated as being the first valentine.

Also found in the British Museum (within the “Paston Letters”) is the first English valentine. Margery Brews wrote this to her fiancé John Paston III in 1477. In her letter she addresses John as “my right welbelouyd Voluntyn.” Coincidentally, she wrote this letter in the month of February. It must have worked, as they were married later that same year.

Valentine's Day is for the ones you love. From the legendary letters to the paper parchment poetry and regardless of its history, a homemade love note can set a heart aflutter. Even if you are no duc d’Orleans, remembering to send a card and adding a little note can put a smile on anyone's face.

Links related to this article:

Description of the Duke of Orleans manuscript:
http://molcat.bl.uk/msscat/HITS0001.ASP?VPath=d!dataloadmsscathtml39383.htm
(please cut and paste if the entire link isn't blue, thanks)

A list of places where you can send a free valentine greeting:
http://members.tripod.com/~redridinghood1/freepages/wfecards.html

Tower of London's website:
http://www.tower-of-london.com/

The British Museum website:
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Zoë Stansell, MSS Enquires, at the British Museum.