Valentine’s Day provokes fear and dread in the hearts of many. Whilst some people ignore the day and see it as too commercial, other people spend hundreds of dollars on heart-shaped gifts and teddy bears to impress their loved ones. In order to take some of the fear out of the dreaded day, it is wise to focus on not WHAT to buy as a gift but WHY.



The history of Valentine’s Day is a little unclear and there are conflicting stories as to who Valentine actually was. Some historians suggest that Valentine was a priest serving under Emperor Claudius II during the third century in Rome. It is suggested that Claudius II decided that single men were better soldiers and he therefore decreed that young men were unable to marry lest it affect his potential soldiers. Valentine supposedly felt the injustice of the law and continued to marry young lovers in secret but he was soon discovered and supposedly put to death.

Another legend claims that whilst Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with a young girl. Before he was sentenced to death, he sent the girl a letter which he had penned and signed it “From Your Valentine". This is still the expression used today when giving the traditional Valentine’s Day cards.

Even if these stories or legends are not true, what is indisputable is the meaning behind these actions – love.

In the world of five minute marriages and love affairs, we don’t stop to think enough about love and the great romances of all time. The names of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall all hark back to a day that we no longer can relate to.

So instead of worrying about which chocolates to buy or which jewellery your loved one prefers, think instead of what you are trying to achieve. Valentine’s Day is about making someone feel special and unique, even if it is as simple as a Valentine, penned by the priest himself. Being remembered as someone thoughtful and generous rather than someone who resembles Scrooge and his dislike for gift giving is surely much more beneficial.

Wouldn’t you prefer to be thought of in hindsight as the one that got away rather than the one who your partner wished would go away?

Further information:

If you would like to learn more about the greatest romances of all time, Tonic Gifts is selling An Affair to Remember by Megan Gressor and Kerry Cook. An Affair to Remember is a warm and intimate account of 43 of the world's greatest love stories, of captivating tales of grand passions, charismatic personalities, and extraordinary exploits and would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day.

About the author:

Michelle Sweeney is the owner of an online gift store – www.tonicgifts.com.au. Michelle has had a varied career in administration and customer service roles and has combined all of her skills and expertise in order to establish and create Tonic Gifts.

Tonic Gifts registered as a business in October 2004 with an aim to provide quality and affordable gifts to online shoppers both in Australia and overseas and to make the whole experience as simple and enjoyable as possible.

We specialise in selling beauty and bath products, accessories, baby gifts, books, toys and many other great gift ideas.

As shoppers ourselves, we only sell products that we, as consumers, would wish to buy. And just for the record, the team at Tonic Gifts loves to shop! The name Tonic Gifts was inspired by the fact that a tonic is a refreshing or restorative influence and we know how much we need those on a weekly, if not daily basis, especially with our hectic lifestyles.