Valentine’s Day: A Gifting History Written in Love

Every year, Valentine’s Day arrives quietly, and then suddenly everywhere.

Red roses on street corners. Handwritten cards tucked into coat pockets. Boxes of chocolates exchanged with shy smiles or long-held love.

But long before Valentine’s Day became what we know today in the UK, it was something far older, stranger, and deeply human. A celebration shaped by ritual, rebellion, poetry, and the timeless desire to connect.

Gift giving has always been about connection, care, and intention, a tradition that stretches back centuries. The exchange of cards and gifts on Valentine’s Day reflects broader traditions that developed over time, particularly within the UK’s gifting culture.

To understand why we still give gifts on Valentine’s Day, we have to go back far back to where it all began.

Ancient Rome: Where Love, Fertility, and Spring Collided

In ancient Rome, mid-February was not about romance as we imagine it today. It was about survival, renewal, and hope.

Around this time, Romans celebrated Lupercalia, a fertility festival honouring the coming of spring. Winter was loosening its grip, crops would soon grow again, and life in every sense was returning.

The rituals were earthy and symbolic. Love, fertility, and future prosperity were all deeply intertwined. While Lupercalia was later deemed incompatible with Christian values, one thing endured: the idea that this moment in the calendar marked new beginnings.

Historians believe the Christian Church later connected this time of year to St. Valentine, blending older traditions with stories of secret marriages and romantic devotion. According to National Geographic, this layering of pagan and Christian customs helped shape what would eventually become Valentine’s Day as we know it.

And then came a man named Valentine.

St Valentine: Love as an Act of Defiance

By the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire had changed. Emperor Claudius II believed unmarried men made better soldiers and banned marriage for young men altogether.

Valentine, a Christian priest, disagreed.

According to legend, he secretly married couples in love, performing ceremonies in defiance of the emperor’s decree. When discovered, Valentine was imprisoned and later executed.

Love, once again, had been treated as something dangerous powerful enough to challenge authority.

The Christian Church later linked Valentine’s story to February 14th, slowly transforming the date into one associated with romantic devotion, sacrifice, and loyalty. Love was no longer just about fertility or ritual. It was about choice and meaning.

Medieval Britain: Poetry, Tokens, and Quiet Promises

By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day had crossed into something softer.

In 14th-century England, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer famously linked Valentine’s Day with romantic love, writing about birds choosing their mates on February 14th. This poetic association took hold, especially among the upper classes.

Early Valentine traditions in the UK were simple and intimate. Lovers exchanged handwritten verses, small tokens, and symbolic gifts. These weren’t extravagant gestures; they were personal, thoughtful, and often deeply sentimental.

Gift-giving was less about display and more about saying what couldn’t be spoken aloud.

Flowers and Hidden Meanings: The Language of Love

By the 18th century, gifting on Valentine’s Day became more symbolic.

This was the era of floriography, or the language of flowers. Each bloom carried a message:

Red roses meant deep love, Violets symbolised loyalty, and Forget-me-nots spoke for themselves.

Historical research shows that this symbolic use of flowers helped make Valentine’s gifting deeply emotional rather than purely material.

Flowers became a way to communicate emotions in a society that prized restraint. Giving a bouquet wasn’t just romantic, it was coded, intentional, and emotionally rich.

This is why flowers remain one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts in the UK today. They’ve always been more than decoration. They’re a language.

The Victorian Era: Cards, Chocolates, and a Gifting Boom

The 19th century changed everything.

With the introduction of the Penny Black stamp in 1861, sending post in Britain became affordable for ordinary people. Suddenly, Valentine’s cards could be sent anonymously, discreetly, and in huge numbers.

As reported by NDTV, this innovation helped turn chocolate into a symbol of affection, indulgence, and care, a tradition that continues to define Valentine’s gifting today.

Victorian Valentines were elaborate. Lace, ribbons, folded paper, hidden messages each card was a small work of art. Stationers made fortunes, and Valentine’s Day gifting became a national ritual.

Then came chocolate.

In 1861, Richard Cadbury introduced the first heart-shaped chocolate box, transforming chocolate from a rare luxury into a romantic staple. Chocolate gifts for Valentine’s Day took on new meaning: indulgence, pleasure, and affection wrapped together.

To this day, chocolates remain one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts not because they’re expected, but because they feel indulgent, comforting, and intimate.

Modern Valentine’s Day: Love, Meaning, and Choice

By the mid-20th century, Valentine’s Day in the UK experienced a revival. While some criticised growing commercialisation, something else happened too: people began seeking meaning again.

Modern Valentine’s Day gifting is no longer one-size-fits-all. Modern Valentine’s gifts often reflect emotional expression, which closely aligns with the idea of love languages and gifting.

Some celebrate romantic partners, Others honour friendships, self-love, or long-distance connections.

Many choose thoughtful gift boxes, personalised items, or small gestures that reflect real relationships. This focus on thoughtfulness also explains the long-standing debate about whether giving or receiving gifts brings more emotional fulfilment.

Why does Valentine’s Day gift-giving remain so popular?

Because love in all its forms still needs expression.

A gift, at its best, isn’t about obligation. It’s about recognition. About saying, “I see you. I choose you. You matter to me.”

Why the Tradition Endures

From ancient Roman rituals to handwritten verses, from Victorian cards to modern gift boxes, Valentine’s Day gifting has always evolved but its heart has stayed the same.

It’s never just been about the gift, It’s about the feeling it carries.

In a world that moves quickly, Valentine’s Day slows us down long enough to remember the people we love and to show it in ways words sometimes fail.

And that’s why, centuries later, we still wrap, write, and give.

Our Valentine’s Day Hampers and Gift Boxes 

Looking for a gift that feels thoughtful, luxurious, and perfectly suited to your Valentine? 

Imanigift Valentine’s range combines treats, keepsakes, and indulgent comforts, all wrapped in a beautiful wicker box that says, “I care.”

I Love You Valentine Pamper Gift Box - For Her

This box is perfect for the woman who gives so much of herself and rarely stops to receive.

Whether she’s your partner, wife, girlfriend, or someone you simply want to cherish, this gift is about rest, romance, and reassurance. As she lifts the lid, she’s met with soft textures, gentle scents, and thoughtful treats that invite her to slow down.

The scrunchie and insulated water bottle are practical but comforting, everyday items that quietly remind her of you. The I Love You chocolate bar and artisan drink add sweetness without excess, while the perfume and rose water bring a light, romantic calm. The under-eye patches and cookie complete the experience: a moment of care, indulgence, and softness.

This is a gift that doesn’t rush her.

It tells her she’s allowed to pause and that she’s deeply loved.

Spoil Him Valentine Gift Box - For Him

This box is made for the man who doesn’t always ask for much, but deserves to feel appreciated.

Ideal for husbands, boyfriends, or partners, this hamper blends comfort with care. When he opens it, there’s a sense of familiarity: cosy socks, grooming essentials, a good chocolate treat, all things he’ll actually use, but rarely buys for himself.

The beard shampoo and keepsakes quietly say “I see you.”

The treats add warmth and ease.

Nothing feels overdone, just thoughtful, grounded, and personal.

It’s the kind of Valentine’s gift that makes him feel relaxed, noticed, and quietly valued without needing grand gestures or big words.

Super Dad Valentine Gift Box

Valentine’s Day isn’t only about romantic love; sometimes it’s about appreciation.

The Super Dad Gift Box is perfect for fathers, partners, or father figures who consistently show up without seeking recognition. From the moment he opens the box, there’s a sense of pride and warmth.

The Super Dad mug becomes part of his morning routine.

The socks and beard shampoo offer everyday comfort.

The exotic wine invites him to unwind.

And the Five-Minute Journal offers something deeper, a chance to pause, reflect, and take care of himself, too.

This is a gift that says, “You’re doing a great job,” and means it.

Special Friend Gift Box - For Her

This box is made for the woman who’s been there, the friend who listens, supports, celebrates, and understands.

Perfect for a best friend, sister, or someone who’s been a steady presence in your life, this gift feels elegant and affirming. Opening it feels like opening a thoughtful conversation.

The luxury handbag and UV umbrella are practical yet stylish, things she’ll carry with her. The manifestation journal invites reflection and intention, while the scented candle and chocolate create a calm, grounding moment just for her.

It’s not just a gift, it’s reassurance.

A reminder that she’s valued, supported, and thought of.

A Valentine’s Gift Box for Anyone Who Matters

Some gifts don’t need a label.

Our versatile Valentine’s boxes are designed for anyone, a colleague, a boss, a neighbor, a partner, or a friend. They’re ideal when you want to express care without pressure or expectation.

Each box focuses on warmth, usefulness, and emotional comfort. From the textures of the packaging to the small details inside, the experience feels intentional never rushed.

These are gifts that make people feel remembered.

Why These Valentine’s Gift Boxes Feel Different

Because they’re not about filling space, they’re about creating moments.

It’s not just the items inside, it’s the feeling of being seen. Studies around the psychology of gift giving show that thoughtful gifts often bring as much joy to the giver as the receiver.

From the quiet excitement of opening the box to the small comforts that follow days or weeks later, each gift continues to speak long after Valentine’s Day has passed.

That’s the heart of meaningful gifting and why our Valentine’s hampers are designed not just to be opened but felt.

Thoughtful gifting isn’t about the price or the occasion, it’s about intention.