Valentine Day Card

The first Valentine Day greeting is believed to have been a letter penned by St. Valentine while he was in prison. In 1415 Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote a poem to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. It is the oldest known valentine still in existence. It is a part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. It is believed that King Henry V hired John Lydgate, a writer to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Around the seventeenth century in Great Britain, Valentine Day became a popular celebration. By the end of the eighteenth century, friends and lovers of all social classes began to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. Printed cards began to replace written letters by the end of the century. During this time, the direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. The ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions.

The exchange of Valentine Day cards was started in the early 1700s in the United States. The commercial sales of cards began in the 1840s when Esther A. Howland began to mass produce them.

The Greeting Card Association estimates that one billion valentine cards are sent each year. This makes Valentine Day the second largest card sending holiday of the year with Christmas in first place. Women purchase approximately 85% of all valentine cards.

Valentine Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, France, and Australia.