| A strand of peals... a ruby ring... a stunning watch... All | | | | the backs. Fine watches come in every price range - |
| these have to do with Valentine's Day happiness and | | | | from the very expensive such as Rolex and Chanel |
| gifts of love for your special Valentine. But there is | | | | to Movado, Chopard, and de Grisogno. |
| even for more your Valentine than this. Read on and | | | | 2) Dream Vacation - A dream vacation for two might |
| find out what. | | | | just be the most welcome gift of all. Travel to |
| Presenting a gift to the one you love has been a | | | | Bermuda, Cancun, or Venice and stay for a week in |
| popular custom for centuries. But it really took an | | | | an elegant hotel with a great restaurant. For a more |
| interesting twist in 18th Century Turkey. At that | | | | adventurous trip, consider a Caribbean cruise or a |
| time, lovers would send each other "love baskets." | | | | cruise to Alaska in summer. |
| These baskets were hand delivered, often by a | | | | 3) Museum Art - Here is a gift that always pleases. |
| woman in the village. The baskets contained feathers, | | | | Almost every large museum has a proper gift shop |
| charcoal, flowers, wax, and other items. Each item | | | | where you can buy a reproduction of great art on |
| signified a special message of passion that the lovers | | | | display inside the museum. Some of this art is |
| understood. | | | | sculpture such as intertwining hearts, cupids, and |
| Meanwhile, in Europe, couples were sending each | | | | classical statues. Each piece will remind your Valentine |
| other flowers. Similar to the items in the "love | | | | of your undying love. |
| baskets," each type of flower carried a message of | | | | 4) Treasured Name Scroll - Your beloved's name is a |
| love and passion. For instance, a red rose meant, "I | | | | precious sight. Why not have a beautiful scroll made |
| love you with all my heart." An orchid signified, "Our | | | | of his or her first name against the background of a |
| love is pure." And, a camellia conveyed, "I am so | | | | painting or majestic crest. Included in handsome |
| proud of my love for you." Many of the messages | | | | printing is the name and its meaning, facts about the |
| are lost to us today even though red roses still | | | | name, and famous people who bear the name. A |
| mean, "I love you." | | | | golden crown, seals, and colorful borders complete |
| Lovers relied on flowers to carry their romantic | | | | the scroll. It is ready for framing and comes with a |
| feelings until about the 1750s when hand-made cards | | | | free gift you will also treasure. |
| came into fashion. These cards were heavy with | | | | 5) Your Valentine's Family Tree - Now, here is a rare |
| decorations of lace, paintings of flowers, and gold. A | | | | and fascinating gift. Most people want to learn their |
| century later, cards were made by machine and | | | | genealogy. So what better gift for the one you love |
| contained shells and other decorations. Along with the | | | | than a family tree. Hire a genealogy researcher on an |
| cards, lovers exchanged gifts - much as we do | | | | hourly basis to comb through public records. Who |
| today. | | | | knows, he or she may uncover some famous |
| And now, draw up a chair and relax while we look at | | | | ancestors as well as a handsome family crest. |
| some 21st Century Valentine's Day gifts of love. | | | | Have a happy Valentine's Day and remember that |
| 1) Matching Wristwatches - A pair of fine gold | | | | Valentine's Day happiness and gifts of love for your |
| wristwatches for him and her would be a tribute to | | | | special Valentine will thrill your beloved. It does not |
| your love for your Valentine. To personalize this gift, | | | | matter so much what the gift is as long as it comes |
| have your Valentine's initials and your engraved on | | | | from your heart. |