Valentine's Day: Shopping Guide

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Valentine’s Day: Shopping Guide

Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine’s Day is that time of the year where you have the opportunity to show your love and affection to your family, friends and of course, your lover or spouse. Even though it is the thought that truly matters most when it is a special occasion like this, it can be very tricky to find that perfect gift for our loved ones. Is it just a friend? Is it someone special? How long have you been together? How serious is it? What do you want to communicate? What is your budget? … So many questions… Why don’t you let Become help you to find the perfect gift at the perfect price! We have gathered a wealth of useful information for you in order to help you have a dazzling St Valentine Day.

 

 

Valentine’s Day resources:

 

Saint Valentine’s Day Across the World

Even though St Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, it doesn’t always have the same meaning or it is not always celebrated in the same way. In most western countries people usually exchange cards or small gifts like flowers, chocolates and jewellery.

Some countries like Canada, really make it almost us a national celebration with festive balls and parties. In schools, songs, skits and plays are organized to celebrate the joy of love.

In Australia people see Valentine’s Day as an occasion to not only strengthen bonds with loved ones such as spouses and family but also with colleague and neighbors with small sympathies.

In Brazil, the Saint Valentine's Day is actually celebrated on the 12th of June and it is called “Dias dos Namorados” (The Day of the Lovers). Couples usually plan a romantic night together to celebrate this occasion.

In Colombia, Saint Valentine’s Day is also celebrated on another day, the third Saturday of September and it is called “Día del Amor y Amistad” (The Day of Love and Friendship).

In some northern European countries, such as Finland and Estonia, a wider meaning is given to St. Valentine’s Day and it is called “Friend’s day”. On this day, people usually remember all their friends and not just their significant others.

Even China now celebrates the western version of Saint Valentine, since the 1980’s. However, they used to have their very own tradition from ancient Chinese culture based upon an old legend called “The Night of Sevens”. The legend says that the Cowherd Star and the Weaver Maid Star are usually separated by the Milky Way but once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar, they are allowed to meet by crossing an ephemeral bridge.

In Japan, the tradition dictates that girls should buy chocolates known as “Giri-Choko” (Obligation-Chocolates) for all their male colleagues and friends, and to buy “Honmei-Choko” (Favorite Chocolates) for their husbands and boyfriends. They later instituted a second celebration, one month later on the 14th of March as a “reply day”, the “White Day”, in which men are expected to return the favor and buy gifts for all the women who gave them chocolates a month earlier, with the value to be three time more expensive than the gift they initially received!

The Mystifying Origins of Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day

 

Saint Valentine’s Day is such a popular celebration that everybody knows about it. But do you really know the origins of Saint Valentine’s Day? Did you know that the roots of this celebration go way back to ancient times? Did you know that it was also traditionally a very meaningful celebration despite what most people believe nowadays?

Indeed, since ancient times and even before the Christians, the middle of February was linked to love and fertility with the Lupercales rites. After the advent of the Christianity in the Roman world, it was in fact Pope Gelase 1st in 496, who declared the 14th of February the Saint Valentine celebration to commemorate Valentine, a martyr priest and in honor of love as the romantic interpretation. For which Valentine priest the exactly commemoration is actually intended for, is a little bit confusing as it was passed along throughout history. There are two main legends associated here-one is for Valentine from Rome and one is for Valentine from Interamna (modern Terni-Italy). They were both martyrs, both from the same time period, both came from modern central Italy and they were both buried in the same place, the Flaminienne way. That is precisely why it is so difficult to accurately say which one Pope Gelase 1st really meant to honor. However, since both stories are in fact tributes to love, they both justifiably deserve to be celebrated.

Valentine from Rome was a priest that was tortured during the second half of the third century. The legend tells that Emperor Claudius II engaged in a very bloody military campaign and was forbidding young men from getting married in order to eliminate distractions and urge the young men to focus and fight with all their strength. Despite the Emperor’s orders, the priest Valentine was secretly marrying young couples until the army discovered him and subsequently tortured him to death.

For Valentine from Interamna (modern Terni), the tradition narrates that he was a bishop under the reign of Claudius II and Aurelius. The bishop came to Rome with the intention of converting people to Christianity. The pagan Emperor was of course not pleased by the bishop’s efforts, and had him arrested. However, out of compassion, the Emperor put the bishop under the custody of a noble family, during which time Valentine completed a miracle by restoring the eyesight to the daughter of his captors. Later under Aurelius, Valentine was once again arrested for trying yet again to convert people to Christianity; however, this time he was not so lucky as he was firmly sentenced to death. Before his execution, he wrote a note to the young girl who he was now tied to and signed the message with “your Valentine”. His disciples took his memorabilia back to his hometown; where people later built a basilica in his honor. Nowadays young couple go there during the month of February to seal their promise to each other.

Historical Gifts

The earliest sign of a “Valentine” love note goes back to the XV century and it was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his beloved wife while he was held prisoner by the British. In early 1800s, Valentines became very popular in Britain. In the USA, it is thanks to Esther Howland in 1847 that the first mass-produced valentines were made. From that point, the practice kept growing until nowadays where St. Valentine’s Day is now the second largest card-sending holiday of the year after Christmas!

 

 

How to Buy a Ring

ring-guide

The idea of Valentine’s Day is to tell a loved one how happy you are to have him/her in your life. A lot of men/women even want to go further: they decide to propose to their partner on this special day. Styles and designs vary a lot and you can choose between a simple engagement ring, a 5 karat diamond ring and everything in between. Besides making sure that your partner is delighted about the ring, another important thing to consider is that the ring will fit. What would be more embarrassing than getting the loved one the most beautiful ring if it is too big or too tight?! Therefore we have created this buying guide for rings covering important things to consider such as the size, the setting, or the gemstone. Make sure to start your ring research early enough as the whole buying process can take a couple weeks.

The Right Ring Size


As mentioned before, to know the right ring size of your partner is essential when buying a ring. It is the first step as you can’t order anything online without knowing what size will fit the best. Websites such as Goldsmiths offer a free down-loadable ring sizer. Just cut it out and put it around the lucky finger and it will tell you the size. If this approach is too obvious and you rather want to surprise your partner then secretly go into his/her box of personal belongings and “borrow” a ring that he/she likes to wear a lot. This will make sure that your ring has the perfect size. Just use a measuring tape and then find the ring size that fits your partner the best from this conversion chart:


UK Diameter in mm Circumference in mm USA
A 11.5 36.25 0.5
B 12.3 38.64 1
C 12.7 39.90 1.5
D 13.1 41.15 2
E 13.5 42.41 2.5
F 13.9 43.67 3
G 14.3 44.92 3.25
H 14.7 46.18 3.75
I 15.1 47.44 4.25
J 15.5 48.69 4.75
K 15.9 49.95 5.25
L 16.3 51.24 5.75
M 16.7 52.46 6.25
N 17.1 53.72 6.75
O 17.5 54.98 7
P 17.9 56.23 7.5
Q 18.3 57.49 8
R 18.7 58.75 8.5
S 19.1 60.00 9
T 19.5 61.26 9.5
U 19.9 62.52 10
V 20.3 63.77 10.5
W 20.7 65.00 11
X 21.1 66.29 11.5
Y 21.5 67.51 12
Z 21.9 68.77 12.5

 

The Ring Setting

Factors such as how much you are willing to pay and what metal your partner usually likes will determine what kind of metal the ring setting will be made of. Titanium, Platinum, and Tungsten are the most expensive metals as they are much rarer than others. Platinum settings for example have the big advantages that it is such a strong metal that it will last a lifetime and it is hypoallergenic. It will also not wear out and will not tarnish. If you decide to get a gold ring setting you have the choice between yellow, white and rose gold. Gold ring settings come in different karat weights, usually 10k to 18k which is based on the purity of gold. Generally, there is a stamp on the inside of the ring stating the purity of gold. The advantages of gold rings are that they are less expensive and they can be repaired easily.
There are also different styles of ring settings to choose from: A classic setting is also called a claw setting ring. It is a pretty basic design but looks very elegant as it lifts the stone high so it can reflect from all sides. Flush settings look more modern and the diamond is on the same level with the rest of the ring surface. Another one is the Bezel setting ring where the diamond is set in a collar which is on the same level with the ring surface. It looks amazing as it gives additional dimension and height. Other settings are the channel setting ring (a small diamond held from two sides in a channel) and the pave setting (a couple of small diamonds within tiny grains of platinum or gold).

 

About Gemstones

Gemstones are very popular for engagement rings and can be precious and semi-precious stones. Precious gemstones are known for their beauty and are very durable but also rare. Semi-precious stones have only one or two of these characteristics. These are five of the most popular gemstones:

  • •Sapphire can come in colours from violet, green, orange, yellow, pink and purple. It is generally called “Stone of Destiny”.

  • •Amethyst has shades of lilac to purple. It is supposed to calm and clear one’s mind.

  • •Ruby is from the same group as Sapphire and comes in different shades of red. They bring wealth and fortune to the owner.

  • •Opal comes in three different colours: white, black, and fire. They are known for giving spiritual awareness and mental clarity.

  • •Topaz can have all kinds of colours such as blue, red, purple, or brown. This gemstone is connected to communication.

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How to Pick the Right Flowers

flower-guide

Flowers are an important part in Valentine’s Day celebrations all over the world. They are seen as a very romantic and traditional way of saying “I love you”. But did you know that every flower has a different meaning and communicates another message? Therefore you should be aware of what you are trying to tell your lover with the flowers you chose for him/her.

  • •Roses are probably the most popular flowers chosen on Valentine’s Day. They are considered as romantic synonymous with love. They can come in many different colours but red surely is the classic colour for roses. Pink, on the contrary, is soft and feminine and therefore represents adoration and gentility. White is seen as pure and innocent and a gentle, caring person will love them. The colour yellow communicates happiness and friendship. Lilac and purple stand for mystery and love. They also express desire and enchantment and therefore are often used by secret admirers. Here is an interesting fact: Eros, the Greek god of love is an anagram for rose. So it’s no wonder that this flower is seen as the flower of love!

  • •Sunflowers are rarely seen as first choice for Valentine’s Day but they are still seen as romantic flowers. They are supposed to enhance someone’s positive characteristics and therefore make them a superb choice. This flower represents the sun itself and creates a warm and caring atmosphere during the cold winter days in February.

  • •Tulips are the perfect choice if you have found the right man/woman in your life as they represent perfect love. They come in different colours and are a great choice if you don’t want to give away flowers that are too casual or too romantic. Their size and shape is not domineering and therefore a perfect choice for easy-going couples.

  • •Peonies are a traditional Chinese symbol and are regarded as the anniversary flower. They represent prosperity and romance and will bring the couple fortune and a happy marriage.

  • •Carnations on the contrary, are very romantic flowers and symbolize love, fascination and distinction. Their name literally means “the flower of love”. They are very delicate flowers and have a beautiful shape everyone will want to take care of.

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How to pair Wine with a Valentine’s Day Dinner

wine-guide



What makes a beautifully arranged home-made Valentine’s Day Dinner even better? Exactly, it is the right wine arrangements. Traditionally, the old rule that red wine goes with red meat and that white wine should be paired with poultry and fish still applies. Today, sommeliers don’t stick to any hard rules but decide on what wine would be the best for a specific meal. Of course, you are not a professional wine taster so we collected the best rules for an amazing wine pairing:

  • •If you decide to have different kind of wines during your dinner, always start with the light one and then move to more full-bodied ones. Dry wines should precede sweeter ones unless you are serving a sweat course early in the dinner. Wines with a low percentage of alcohol taste better before high alcohol wines.

  • •How the meal is prepared depends on what wine should go with it: Steamed or poached courses go well with delicate wines. Food that is roasted, sautéed, grilled, or braised can be paired with almost any wine that tastes well with it.

  • •Light food should always be accompanied with lighter wines and meals with a flavourful, rich, fat taste should go with full-bodied wines.

  • •Exotic dishes like Indian or Thai food can be paired with opposite wines. This means that hot and spicy dinners go very well with sweet dessert wines. You will see that it can create a whole new flavour experience!

  • •A great way for wine pairing is to match flavours. Earthy wines go well with earthy meals and wines with a citrus taste are great with fish.

  • •Do what many local restaurants do: match a regional food with regional wines. They often have evolved together during centuries and therefore are the perfect match.

  • •When pairing wines with food you should adjust to the flavours found in the meals. Sweet dishes usually make wines more bitter and astringent while high-acid food turns the wine’s flavour into less sour and richer.

  • •As French people like to do, if you have a cheese course you should pair it with the right wine. Mild and sharp cheese should be accompanied by a red wine, cheese with an intense flavour go best with sweet wine.



Try to keep those easy rules in mind when you are preparing for the big Valentine’s Day Dinner and your loved one will be enchanted and delighted!

 

Buying the Right Chocolates

chocolate-guide

When you decide to buy chocolate, make sure it is not an ordinary Tesco or Sainsbury Chocolate Box. Valentine’s day is special, try a Chocolate Boutique or café in your surrounding to get some sweet ideas. There are some luxury chocolates which should be definitely part of your valentine gift.

Chocolate Truffles:
Is a special round piece of chocolate which is traditionally made with a chocolate ganache (chocolate and cream) in the centre and coated in chocolate powder. Truffles have become synonymous with is a luxury and exquisite taste.

Pralines:
Is a delicious nut cream made out of pecan or almonds and sugar syrup. The praline is a delicious filling for a chocolate or it can be the original whole nut praline. A beautifully chosen box of praline will melt the way to the heart.

After Dinner Mint:
Is a great idea to kick of a romantic evening. After dinner mint rounds of a great meal and gives a fresh taste in the mouth. The once coated with chocolate are extra special. Maybe choose another brand this year, then the original once.

Go for the luxury brands for Valentine’s, exquisite brands include: Neuhaus Chocolates, Belgium Chocolate, Teuscher Chocolates, Godiva Chocolatier, Ferrero, Lindt and Thorntons.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Geeks

electronic-guide



Is your loved one as big of a geek as you are? Then he/she won’t be very thrilled about classic gifts like a bouquet of flowers, chocolate or jewellery. There were a lot of new amazing electronics coming out this year that make a great Valentine’s Day gift and that will stay in your loved one’s memory for a long time.

Geeky Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her:

A great way to remember all the special occasions in your life with your partner is to give her a digital photo frame. You can put all photos of the past months or year on one frame, put it in a special place in your home and enjoy all your magical moments with the in-built slideshow.
Another great memorable Valentine’s Day gift is a pink USB flash drive with some personal content on it. You can put some photos of the two of you or songs that have a special meaning to you on it. The USB stick is small and your girlfriend can take it with her everywhere she goes. You can even combine both and create a personal presentation with pictures, songs or videos. So she carries a really personal gift with her and can show the content to her friends.

Geeky Valentine’s Gifts for Him:

The New Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation is not only an mp3 player but you can also play videos or video games on it and surf the internet via Wi-Fi. This makes the device a little pocket computer your boyfriend will love to carry around. You even have the option to get a personal engraving on it so you can tell your loved one how glad you are to have him in your life. Besides that, there are hundreds of thousands applications to download to make the iPod touch a unique personable device.
Are you looking for some futuristic electronic product your boyfriend will love? Then take a look at the Philips Living Colors lamp. This bowl-shaped lamp consists of a lot of little LED lights that can change colours depending on your mood or settings of the room. You can manually change the lighting with a remote control or turn on a setting that switches between colours like a rainbow. This lamp will change your whole room and provide the perfect romantic setting for Valentine’s Day!

Geeky Valentine’s Gifts for both of you:

How about presents that make both of you happy and make you spend more time together? The Nintendo Wii black console currently is the most popular console in the world and offers hours of fun. Besides the typical video games you can also loose weight and work out with the Wii Fit package and the accompanying Balance Board. There are hundreds of games you can play together and it will guarantee a lot of fun for both of you.
If you more prefer to sit back on your coach, relax and watch a movie then you should get the Bose Lifestyle home theater system. It provides crystal clear surround sound and you will feel like sitting in a movie theatre. So no matter if you watch a romantic comedy or a science fiction thriller, both of you will be pleased and will feel like sitting right in the middle of the movie. Combine a movie night with some candles, popcorn, chocolate and wine and you will have the perfect date all over again!

 

 

Buy great Valentine’s Day Gifts on a Budget



Under 25 £:
Although you only spend under 25 £, your gift never has to look like it was bought on a budget. It is all about the thought, the idea and the presentation witch counts. Words can move your loved once more than elaborate gifts. Choose a really great Valentine card and write words you really mean. Valentine pink brief are a funky budget tip to celebrate the day.

Under 50 £:
Roses are the obvious choice for your partner, but often there will be problems with deliver and timing. To prevent disappointment, why not get a rose gift set? It will last longer and shows your commitment. Heart pendants and earrings are beautiful jewellery items for Valentine’s Day. Every woman loves her men to stand behind her to tie a new necklace around her neck.

Under 100 £:
Classic roses and chocolates are not enough anymore; you need to add a personal touch, put some thoughts into it. Lingerie or a classic satin robe adds some flavour. Wallets and handbags always will show that you are interested in your partner’s appearance. The charm bracelet is great; it shows commitment and romance because it allows you to add charms.

Over 100 £:
If you two enjoy good movies, your sweetie would enjoy the new Panasonic Blu-Ray player. A golf simulator would keep your love at home to practice golf, rather than going out to play. A Swiss watch is always a neat idea to stay trendy. In addition this gift might show a time & dedication.

 

 

 

Gifts for every type of relationship

Gifts-guide

Are you wondering about what you should get your partner for Valentine’s Day? Well, we totally understand that this is a tricky question. It all goes down to how long you have been seeing each other. If it is your first Valentine’s Day together there are different things to consider than for couples who have had many Valentine’s Days together. Take a look at this simple Relationship Buying Guide that we have created.

1 month:
It sure is your first Valentine’s Day and you maybe don’t know each other that well. Therefore you should keep it simple with your Valentine’s Day gift. Something like personalised chocolate or standing in front of her/his house with a bottle of Champagne Brut and chocolate is the perfect surprise for Valentine’s Day.

6 months:
It is definitely getting more serious and therefore you should get a classic Valentine’s Day gift like flowers or even a silver necklace with her name. It is also always nice to make the present special for him/her, for example you could bake something heart-shaped both of you can enjoy together.

1 year and more:
You have passed the big test and it seems that you are made for each other, congratulations! Your partner knows how much you love him/her. Therefore don’t get all too crazy with your Valentine’s Day gift! Something personal and thoughtful is probably the best. What about taking him/her out to see the romantic play or musical, this would definitely stay in your memory. If you want something to last, then I have two words for you: platinum ring!

 

 

DIY Great Valentine's Day Gifts

Gifts-guide



After all it’s Valentine’s Day and which gift speaks straight to the heart? Yes, if it’s a homemade DIY Valentine’s Gift. Your love will never forget a homemade gift. Remember it’s not supposed to be perfect, it’s the thought that counts most. Here we listed a few great and easy ideas to conquer the heart of your valentine.

Paint a heart shaped porcelain dish. She can use it to store jewellery or use it as a soap dish or side plate. You will be present in his/ her life. All you need is a kit which gets you started.

If you are more of a cuddle type, get a homemade Teddy Bear kit. She will always keep this bear and it will remind her of you in the times when you are separated.

Decorate a small mirror with hearts and drawings. On the mirror with a lipstick or eyeliner you can write: You are my Valentine. This gift is extremely effective when you have to leave early in the morning.

Buy a nice notepad and write on how ever many pages personal coupons for your sweetie. For 30 days think of a favour you can offer every day. Be creative, think of new ideas.

Use your imagination. Get an old glass jar, decorate it with glass pens or paper and call it hugs and kisses jar. On the lid write: ”Open when needed”. Don’t place anything inside. Your love is supposed to use his/her imagination.  This is a great gift when loved once can’t be together for Valentine’s Day.


More Time Together with Activities



Isn’t that what we all actually want? More time with our loved once! If it is your goal to spend to more time with your valentine, you should look at courses and lessons you could take to increase quality time.

Massage:
A massage course is a great idea to spend quality time and learn a new skill you can use in your relationship. To surprise your love, wrap the voucher in a spa massage gift basket and present.

Dancing:
Another idea would be to take a dancing course together. Women love to go out with men who can dance and especially men who want to dance with them. Dancing also indicates a long term commitment and an activity which can come in handy at festivities and events. Don’t be shy, try it. Dancing is a skill, men should have in 2010.

Cooking:
And then we don’t want to forget the traditional cooking course for couples. There are many courses out there which offer exciting fusion cooking for couples. It’s a great way to spoil each other and learn new tricks and tips. To introduce the gift you can get a great fusion cooking pot and place the vouchers inside.

 

 
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