Long ago in ancient Rome, Emperor Claudius outlawed marriage for young men as he believed that without wives and families they would make better soldiers in his army. A Priest called Valentine defied this law and continued to perform weddings for young men and women in secret. When Claudius discovered this he sentenced Valentine to death, but he was martyred due to his kind and heroic acts, and became known as Saint Valentine.
Another story suggests he may have been arrested for helping Christians escape the horrors of Roman prisons, where they would be mercilessly beaten and tortured. During his imprisonment he fell in love with his captors daughter, who used to often visit him in his confinement.
Before his death he allegedly wrote a love note to the woman and signed it, 'From Your Valentine'... No matter where the origins lie, Valentine has always been portrayed as a romantic and heroic soul, so its easy to see why this special day based on him and his life has become such a loving and peaceful day.
Did you know....?
♥ Valentines Day as we know it began in Great Britain during the Middle Ages, when poet Geoffrey Chaucer introduced the idea of 'courtly love' or courting/wooing.
♥ By 1797 cards were being mass produced, and a book of poems to write to your Valentine had been published.
♥ In 1847 Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts received a Valentine from a British business associate of her fathers. This gave her the idea to produce Valentines in order to bring the holiday to America.
♥ In Finland February 14th is known as 'Friends Day' and is all about celebrating friendships rather than significant others.
♥ It wasn't until the 1980s, when the diamond industry started to advertise jewellery as a potential Valentines gift that it became properly associated with the day.
♥ In Wales 'Dydd Santes Dwynwen' (Saint Dwynwens Day) is celebrated on January 25th, honoring St. Dwynwen - the patron saint of Welsh lovers.
♥ In the Middle Ages, young men and women would choose their Valentine by taking a name from a bowl. For a week afterwards, they would wear this persons name pinned to their sleeve, to make sure everyone could see it. This is where the phrase 'wear your heart on your sleeve' comes from.
♥ The first chocolate box made specifically for Valentines day was produced by Richard Cadbury in the late 1800s.
♥ The Victorians loved Valentines Day, with 60,000 cards being sent in 1835 - despite extortionate postage costs. We might be slightly bias, but we think hosiery is an ideal gift for Valentines Day. Stockings and hold ups are synonymous with love and romance, or body stockings make for a racier choice! Patterned tights are also the perfect way to dress for the occasion, with anything featuring hearts, red or floral motifs marking the day in a fun and fashionable way. 
Left: Falke Lunelle Hold Ups
Right: Glamory Deluxe 20 Hold Ups
Left: Pretty Polly Pretty Smitten Tights
Right: Pretty Polly Curves Bow Backseam Tights
Left: Trasparenze Demetra Bodystocking
Right: Wolford Affaire 10 Stockings
