The meaning behind popular Valentine’s Day gifts
February 18th, 2015
Gift-giving, in essence, is a very simple and straightforward task. The premise is that you know the person well enough to know his or her likes and dislikes, and you then choose something based on this information. This kind of logical thinking works fairly well in most cases when one is bound by social obligation to buy a gift. But on special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, the exchange of gifts is more than just a socially dictated compulsion – it is also an expression of love and care and everything else that makes one go starry eyed and weak kneed. The only problem is the perfect Valentine’s gift is not so easy to find.
But perhaps, knowing a little bit more about the traditions and symbolism behind the gifts would help ease your dilemma? Here’s the lowdown on some popular gift choices and how you should interpret their meanings:
Flowers
A rose is not just a rose, dear reader. On Valentine’s Day every rose, and logically every flower, has a different meaning. Gerbera daisies with their peppy colours and large flowering heads symbolise beauty, purity, and innocence and are known to bring cheerfulness to the receiver. Tulips are epitomes of perfect love and are a classic choice for this love-filled day. If your man, or woman, brings you a bunch of tulips be aware that they did not just happen to pass by them while driving down the road. Roses of course are the best choice of flowers for February 14th and their virtue as an undying symbol of true love has been extolled for generations. Maybe because Shakespeare had his Romeo waxing eloquent about them or perhaps because the colour red has been associated with love and passion since time immemorial, but either way one can never go wrong when choosing a bouquet of roses as gifts on this day.
Jewellery
Jewellery is an expensive gift choice and it tells the receiver that the one gifting it is serious about the relationship; so much that they do not mind spending a huge amount just to show how much they care. Casual flings do not warrant such pricey offerings, and the moment you are presented with something blingy you might want to start thinking about the next level in your relationship. Of course, the type of jewellery also has special significance. While a precious metal like gold and platinum would represent a rock-solid union, a gift of diamonds – especially when it is gifted by a man – is usually taken as a sign of impending commitment. So, choose the metal and the jewellery wisely. Remember you are trying to get a message across, but very subtly and stylishly!
Perfumes
Many people would write off perfumes but we beg to disagree. What a person chooses to wear as a scent says a lot about their tastes and personality, and it is pretty subjective choice. If you are successful in buying the right kind of perfume for your Valentine, it would only go to show how well you know them – from head to toe, literally. The problem with perfume though is that might sometimes come across as a last minute or a clichéd gift idea, so do feel free to throw in some add-ons if you are worried about that. An assorted hamper from a reputed website that does gift hamper delivery in the UK would be a great addition.
Whatever, your choice of gift is, make sure it comes from the heart and that you have a reason and meaning behind gifting it. It is the only way that even the simplest of gifts would make someone special light up on this very special day.