Around the year 270 A.D. The Roman Emperor Claudius-II was worried that Rome had become so big that it was getting harder to defend. So he made a rule that his soldiers were not allowed to marry as he believed that married men had emotional ties and did not concentrate on their duties.

At this same time the Priest Valentine could see the trauma this caused for young lovers, and so met with them in secret to perform marriages. Claudius found out and ordered Valentines arrest and on 24th of February 270 Valentine was executed.

Before his death while in prison Valentine wrote a love letter to his own sweetheart, Asterius, on the 14th of February, and signed it from your Valentine, this phrase has lived on ever since and Valentine has been remembered for his romantic compassion.

Asterius was his jalors daughter the jailor had asked Valentine to cure her of blindness, Valentine did this through his faith, and they became close.

Valentine became a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14th. The greeting cards acquired Saint Valentine's name.

The Valentine's Day card spread with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world. One of the earliest valentines cards was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. The card is now preserved in the British Museum.

One legend tells the story of Cupid and the mortal maiden, Psyche. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Psyche was happy until her sisters convinced her to look at Cupid.

Cupid punished her by departing. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished with him and Psyche found herself alone in an open field As she wandered to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and dangerous than the last.

For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box.

During her trip she was given tips on avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead. She was warned not to open the box.

Temptation would overcome Psyche and she opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the sleep from her body and put it back in the box.

Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid made her a goddess.

Giving a card is a wonderful way of showing your love to that someone special and even more so when you take the time to make it yourself. Here I will tell you how to make a card that use to be very fashionable a good few years ago, but sadly are no longer available, these cards had beautiful padded silk fronts and scented with Rose or Lavender perfume.

You will need

1 30cm by 21cm card color of your choice
1, 15cm by 12cm card
red silk 18cm by 15cm
pinking shears
flock or cotton-wool
needle and white cotton
About 3 to 4cm wide by 50cm long white lace
glue
Gold pen optional
And your loved ones favorite perfume.

First of all you need to cut a heart shape from the smaller heart should measure across widest part 11cmand 14cm from top to point, use as a template to cut silk just slightly bigger with the pinking shears to stop fraying.

Glue some padding to the card and spray with perfume place the silk over the top and glue edges to the back of the card, then take the lace and with needle and cotton using running stitch thread all along one side then gather up until it fits around heart shape making sure gathers are even. Glue edge to back of card so a little shows at front. Now take larger card and fold in half glue heart shape to center of it.

Using the gold pen, write Be My Valentine at the top, or you could use gold stick on letters. Now all you need is to write a romantic phrase or poem inside and there you have a beautiful Valentines card.

NB: For a man use a black card and leave the lace off.

To make a gift box for a small gift, you can pick up a heart shape box from your local craft shop. Paint it red and glue in some cotton-wool for a little padding and line with white silk, this makes a beautiful complement to the card and placing a gold or silver necklace, bracelet or special made chocolates inside is just so romantic. NB: For a man place a chunky signet ring or a watch in the box. Happy Valentine's Day