Valentine’s Day
Memories & A Little Bit of a Twist
After three heavy duty editorials, we decided to lighten up a bit.
Growing up, Valentine’s Day used to be a fun time in school. Back in the 1960’s & 1970’s, school children would exchange Valentine’s cards. You would buy a box for the whole class, or in public school, your home room and each kid would get a Valentine. Teachers would give out little candy hearts or some sort of Valentine’s Day treats. Sometimes cupcakes were passed out to the students.
It was always a happy day. I remember that every student made a Valentine Card that they traced on construction paper that you were able to color and trim and put on the window which decorated the classroom.
I remember my father would buy all the girls in the family a small box of candies with little sayings on them. As we got older, the girls got small boxes of chocolates and my mom would get a larger box and bouquet of flowers. Of course, mom would share her chocolates with everyone. We would also give our parents Valentine’s Day Cards. (Carolyn)
Sometimes I would make homemade cards out of foil paper and would give them to other students, teachers and my family. (Katherine)
So, for Valentine’s Day, we think of sending cards to those we love or think fondly of. Recently I learned about an old tradition of sending someone a Vinegar Valentine Card which trust me, you wouldn’t want to be the recipient of.
Vinegar Valentines were cards with caricatures on them with distasteful messages to those that had viewpoints you disagreed with or with people you particularly didn’t like. Most of the time those cards were not signed. No matter what profession you were in, you could be a target. These cards cost much less than traditional romantic cards. In the 19th Century they made up of half of the United States Valentine’s Day card sales. (Source: www.slate.com)
We hope your Valentine’s Day is Sweet. C.M. & K.M.
