History of Valentines Day

Residents of Salem have celebrated Valentines Day since settling here in the mid-1880s. The tradition of sending ornate cards as part of the Valentine’s Day celebration on February 14 began during the Victorian Era. During this time, it was common for people from all social classes to express feelings of friendship and love through the exchange of notes, small gifts, or hand-written verse. Elaborate postcards, and later folding cards, were hand-crafted at home or in small factories. These were often adorned with lace and ribbon, colored illustrations, and embossed borders. But that is only part of the story of the valentine. As the market for sentimental cards expanded, another variety of valentine grew popular. Known as the “comic valentine,” or “penny dreadful,” this card was intended to make its recipient mad. To learn about the history of Comic Valentines please visit: https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/comic-valentines