St Valentine…..did you get a card or gift?

As has already been noted, the day is a sad reminder for those of us whose valentine has predeceased them. I dealt with it by buying myself flowers as a reminder of the many bunches bought for me over the years - and I am so grateful for that.

Love the courgette story. 🤣

No Valentines cards for me. But I feel sorry for my daughter. She’s young but no bf. I used to send the children V cards until they ordered me to stop 😂

Fleurpepper,
My husband wouldn't dream of buying me flowers for St Valentine's Day.
The only reason I get jewellery every year (almost) is because it is the day our son and only child was born, not because he falls for the hype!

In just over 53 years of marriage, I never once had a Valentine card or present. I did it the first year, but never again. He always remembered my birthday and our anniversary, but had no time for St.Valentine.

''Valentine's Day is one of the biggest commercial opportunities for marketers. With spending expected to reach $22 billion this year in the US alone, you need to leverage this romantic holiday for your business. Not every Valentine's Day marketing idea works in e-commerce, though.''

Those roses upset me most- grown on the other side of the world, using masses of water in huge greenhouses, and using loads of chemicals, then flown across the world to be sold.

Absolutely and totally. Unfortunately it has become a massively commercial thing. Glad it is not for you.

I shall always remember my first Valentine's card, from my English BF, when I was 14.

But, fleur it doesn't have to be some massive commercialised thing. We have done cards and small gifts since we met and see no reason to stop because Valentine's day is more commercialised.

This year it was Bojangles chocolates and a card.

The Tesco delivery arrived this morning with roses and daffodils and the delivery woman told my husband she was impressed. He was honest and told her that I’d placed the order myself.

No I never had anything when I was married as far as I can remember
My adult grandson bought his mum some lovely roses which was so nice as his dad died when he was a little ‘un

I love the courgette story Sago brilliant

We always exchange cards, as an another poster said his is always more thoughtful than mine. Since we retired we’ve got into the habitat of going out for breakfast and then having a wander somewhere, anywhere really. As the sun was shining we strolled an almost empty beach before sitting with coffee overlooking the water. We usually go for memories rather than ‘stuff’ now, suits us.

We don’t do cards really now but we had a meal deal which we have just enjoyed. We’ll open the wine from it at the weekend. I also got us a large orchid we can enjoy together.

Surprisingly I received an online greetings card from an online old friend. Must admit I was tickled pink.

30 tears ago was our first date he bought me a plush bunny
hes gone now but i always think about my bunny.our dog actually got ahold of it and it became rooks til he took it apart few months later

MawtheMerrier

Fleurpepper

Nah, he is not the silly romantic type- we had a hug and a kiss, and that is fine. We don't need yet another commercial 'Murican thing at all.

By which I assume you mean “American” which of course it isn’t.

The massive commercialisation of it is.

My Dh has just offered to make pancakes because he thought it was also Pancake Day! 🤣🤣

I got a 3 pronged hand cultivator for weeding and he got a box of Cornish pasties. Practical and not at inflated prices 😀Both from some anonymous admirer!

Will do on Thursday. Too busy today.
I buy a card and put a word or two in it. Send it. He accepts the card, writes something in it and gives it to me!

As you can see, we can be financially tight! And dont stick rigidly to even the exact date.

We used to just send each other a valentine card. A couple of years ago I bought him a surprise gift, he felt terrible as he hadnt bought anything, we are now in a turn taking battle to make the other feel bad via unexpected gift giving. I got flowers today and he got nowt so he feels very smug. It's a mature approach

Fleurpepper

Nah, he is not the silly romantic type- we had a hug and a kiss, and that is fine. We don't need yet another commercial 'Murican thing at all.

By which I assume you mean “American” which of course it isn’t.

We each got a card, from the same anonymous people who send us them every year.

Oddly, their handwriting is very similar to that of both of us.

A card with money in flowers bought a few days ago and a cook at home meal from Sainsbury's.
My DH didn't get married until he was in his forties and has always been romantic.

What a lovely memory Aldom. Something special to hold on to .A blessed St. Valentine’s Day to you.

We don't do it at all as my birthday is on the 12th so ive had all my treats for a while.

Giving each other a card or a small present (or a large one) isn't being taken in by commercialism in my view. It's a nice, gentle way of showing someone that you value them. DH shows me every (well almost every) day that he loves me and I hope I do the same. But a card just adds a little light and joy every now and again.

But, horses for courses.

@Fleurpepper,
Romantic celebrations for St Valentine's day were first mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1375, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with America, mainly as the western world didn't even know that America existed back then!