Valentines for All

February 14, 2025 2:08 PM

"When Esther Howland first saw the fancy valentine her father brought home from England, most Americans thought Valentine's Day was a waste of time." I thought I'd have a roundup post of Valentine love of the not-necessarily-romantic variety. Including this book about the origins of cards.

Volunteers deliver gifts to widows on Valentine’s Day. The project began in a florist’s driveway.

someecards

WaPo article on hand drawn cards.

Honey badger and Gritty valentines

posted by jenfullmoon (8 comments total)

Oh neat, Esther Howland was from Worcester Massachusetts and the public library there has a little Flickr set with a picture of her and some of the cards from that time (nb: they are of the more-conventional sort). I was making a gallery earlier with some of these and a few others, not all of which are the standard type. This one with the flying squirrel may be my fave.
posted by jessamyn at 2:32 PM on February 14 [4 favorites]

Ooh, I was just about to make my own (very light) post to share this charming story from Not Always Right.

If you're here today (or tomorrow or whenever), please know that you are loved and appreciated, "every day of the year".
posted by demi-octopus at 2:36 PM on February 14 [9 favorites]

demi-octopus, I love that! The buy-out reminds me of this NYT article I saw on anti-VD celebrations.

For 14 years, Canon has marked the occasion with a St. Valentine’s Day Massacre event. Flyers warn that “any couples outwardly showing displays of affection (such as holding hands, kissing or whispering sweet nothings)” risk the wrath and judgment of fellow diners, as expressed via “one (or all) of the 24 water guns placed throughout the room.”

This is roughly the same idea behind “Love Stinks,” an annual event at Hart’s, in Brooklyn, that Nialls Fallon, a co-owner, describes as an alternative to steak-and-Champagne programming. There’s a set menu of pungent dishes (polenta with stinky cheese, puntarelle with anchovies), and the theme is adaptable, depending on your needs. Sharing a cascade of funky courses with your beloved can be the height of intimacy. Alternatively, it is an acknowledgment that “love can literally stink sometimes,” Mr. Fallon said.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:57 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]

Oh, these are all so great!

I like the "I could watch TV with you forever." ecard. And the first gritty card and the second honey badger card.

And demi-octopus, I loved that story - wow.

This is a terrific post and I'm glad it's creating a space for other folks to share excellent things.

Thank you so much for this, jenfullmoon, and Happy However You Like To Celebrate Valentine's Day to all!
posted by kristi at 4:03 PM on February 14 [2 favorites]

Those ecards are cute. I took photos and texted several to my spouse in the living room.
posted by waving at 5:40 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]

I would like the "social club" described in the Not Always Right link to exist. Wouldn't that be great - one could go just to be around others but not have to talk, or one could play board games or otherwise interact. Community.
posted by paduasoy at 12:09 AM on February 15 [1 favorite]

The honey badgers are excellent.
posted by paduasoy at 12:11 AM on February 15

Esther Howland is a Mount Holyoke alum.
posted by of strange foe at 7:02 AM on February 15