Valentine's Day in Paris Feast Day or Festival in Paris Champs-Elysées
2012-01-27
Tuesday, February 14 2012
Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day falls on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, often anonymously. The holiday is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
The day is now most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines. Valentine's Day is the one day of the year when you shouldn't be scared to declare your feelings for that special person! For centuries, it has been traditional for girls and boys to exchange cards, letters and gifts on February 14th.In many countries, couples exchange symbolic cards or bunch of flowers. For this, the most romantic of days, there will be a whole host of different events taking place all over France to give you ideas for a special treat. The ancient festival of fertility has now become the day when couples whisper sweet nothings and spoil each other. If you're lucky enough to be planning Valentine's Day in Paris with someone you love, you're not likely to come away disappointed. The city of light seems to be synonymous with romance, so finding things to do for this special occasion shouldn't prove too difficult. But planning ahead is essential, as couples naturally flock here to celebrate on February 14th. Here are some ideas to help you have a truly memorable Valentine's Day in Paris. Valentine's Day Gifts Paris has more shops and department stores per square foot than nearly anywhere in the world. If you want to offer someone special a unique gift for Valentine's Day, you should have no trouble finding it in Paris.