Valentine's Day Symbols: The Signs that Define Love

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What sort of things come to your mind when you think of Valentine's Day? Cutouts of red hearts adorning almost every place that you step into? Pictures of a winged cherub shooting arrows with a bow posted on the walls? Flowers, candles, candies, doves, etc.? You are probably very familiar with all these symbols of love that are prominently displayed all over the place every February. These images are unmistakable, and together they represent our modern celebrations of Valentine's Day. But, do you know the stories behind them? Read on to find out the origins and meanings of the different V-day symbols.

Heart
The heart reigns supreme among all symbols associated with Valentine's Day because it represents love in its purest form. In the ancient times, the heart was believed to where all emotions come from. The heart is the key organ in sustaining life (just as love is). Giving someone your heart means giving him or her your most precious and vital possession. It is not known when exactly the heart took on its current Valentine shape, but scholars believe that it could have originated from the attempts of people in the early times to draw an organ they had never seen. Since then, "heart"-shaped cards, cakes, cookies, pillows, and other items have become a hit every 14th of February.

Cupid
Images of Cupid are some of the most powerful Valentine's Day symbols. But just who is this character? Most people know Cupid as a little chubby winged boy with an innocent face, golden curls, and blue eyes. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, and a god of love in his own right. The arrows that he carries symbolize love and desire. Supposedly, when he strikes you with one, you will soon fall in love. It is for this that the Cupid has come to be associated with Valentine's Day and become one of its most cherished symbols. So watch out for the Cupid -- Valentine's Day is almost here and he may strike you any moment!

Roses
Why are roses a staple every V-day? It is because roses are considered the messengers of love. Have you ever noticed that if you rearrange the letters in the word 'rose', you get 'Eros', the Greek name for the God of love? Roses symbolize love, compassion, peace, friendship, and romance. So, how do you express your love to someone so special? Give them red roses. Red represents the intensity of your love and passion. Additionally, it is said that red rose was the favorite flower of Venus. And apart from the color red, roses of other colors can be given on Valentine's Day to convey different messages such as admiration or friendship.

Love Birds
Have you and your beloved ever been called lovebirds? Birds are an important Valentine's Day symbol, as it is widely believed that birds find their mates on this day. True lovebirds are a type of colorful African parrot named so because they sit closely to each other and appear to never be parted, just as devoted lovers. Many people believe that lovebirds cannot live long in the absence of their partners. Aside from lovebirds, swans and doves are also well-known symbols of pure love and loyalty. In many countries, white doves are used in weddings to signify peace, love, loyalty, and good luck. These birds are said to mate for life and so are symbols of fidelity.

Lace and Ribbons
Ribbons and Lace have been Valentine's Day symbols since the days of knighthood. In the early times, a knight would wear lace or a ribbon given to him by his loved one before he would go to the battlefield. In later times, lace was used as a way for women to signal interest in a member of the opposite sex. A woman who liked a man would drop her lace handkerchief on purpose, hoping that the man would pick it up for her.

Knowing the various symbols associated with Valentine's Day and their meanings should add significance to your celebrations. The next time you pick a red rose for your beloved, or wrap a candy heart with a ribbon, think about what other symbols you can add to strengthen your message of love. So celebrate Valentine's Day with all the lovely Valentine's Day symbols and have a simply fabulous time!