Did you know that the date, February 14, has been declared a day for honouring Saint Valentine since 400 AD?
St Valentine was martyred during Roman times for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Although some mystery surrounds the historical date, it is alleged that St Valentine left a note for the jailer’s daughter the day before he died which simply read ‘Your Valentine’.
It is perhaps because of this that we traditionally send Valentine’s cards, signed ‘Your Valentine’, at this time of year. But it wasn’t until about 900 years later, during the 1300s, that February 14 actually became associated with love and romance, and the giving of cards did not become synonymous with Valentine’s Day until the 1600s.
At that time, declarations of love were hand-written, before ‘lover’s cards’ were printed, replacing hand-written ones. Today, Valentine’s Day is regarded as the “second largest seasonal card-sending” time of the year (the first is Christmas).
This is also a time of year when signs of spring appear, a time when single people begin dating again and new loves start to blossom.
For those in a relationship, Valentine’s Day is the chance to show their love and appreciation for their other half. Often there are romantic proposals of marriage on February 14 as love-struck couples agree to tie the knot. This, understandably, is one of the most popular days of the year to get engaged, alongside Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Showering loved ones with gifts or organising special treats, trips away, or other surprises are common, but what is not so common is the number of gifts available at the 41 shops in the Victorian Market in the heart of the Old Town of Inverness. So if you are looking for an unusual gift or something a bit different, then the smaller, independent retailers are a must-visit ahead of this special day of the year.
And, if you are facing another Valentine’s Day as a singleton, don’t get too hung up about it. It’s not just a time of year to love your spouse or other half; it is also about loving yourself and celebrating who you are.
So, with this in mind, treat yourself, you deserve it. At the Victorian Market, you will find a wide selection of unique shops that you would not find on the high street all under its cast-iron, wooden-domed roof, and while you are there, you could pop into one of its cafes for some coffee and cake – a wee Valentine’s treat from yourself, to yourself!
Here’s just a few of the many gifts on offer in the Victorian Market’s shops.
