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Valentine's Day 2021 is here.

Many couples celebrate “Lovers' Day” and give each other presents, and Google contributes a doodle.

But give what?

Spoons and gloves for Valentine's Day?

Doesn't sound very romantic.

In the 19th century, however, these were some of the most popular gifts for Lovers' Day, as historian Elizabeth Nelson has discovered.

At least in the USA - in Germany, Valentine's Day didn't play a role at the time.

That really only changed around 30 years ago.

The origins of the festival are not entirely clear.

One legend relates to a bishop named Valentin who, despite the imperial ban, married couples and gave away flowers.

He is said to have been beheaded on February 14th in the 3rd century.

Around 1200 years later there are indications of love gestures on February 14th in England.

Around 1800, the first commercial Valentine's cards were printed - also in England - "which at least set off an avalanche there that spread to the USA," writes cultural scientist Gunther Hirschfelder in an article on Valentine's Day customs.

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In the United States, as early as the 1840s, people were complaining about the commercialization of the day, as historian Nelson has found.

Nevertheless, while some copied love poems from books, others reached deep into their pockets and bought, for example, spoons and gloves.

"The spoons were probably silver spoons, so valuable," Nelson said on a television program.

It is possible that some of the gift givers have hidden a sexual allusion to "spooning" - that is, to lie close together as a couple, nestled together like two spoons lying on the side in a drawer.

Gloves were probably more harmless: "Gloves were probably just an elegant gift - (...) everyone wore gloves every day," says Nelson.

Despite a few Valentine's balls from the 1950s, the day only really gained importance in this country.

"Valentine's Day did not play a role in Germany until the 1980s," explains cultural scientist Hirschfelder from the University of Regensburg.

Then it happened quickly: “Around 1990 we had a great cultural vacuum, the East-West contrast suddenly disappeared, there was an incredibly strong digitalization and globalization.

The elements of consumption around Valentine's Day have exploded. "

Valentine's Day 2021: "It has become a cipher, and very trade-driven"

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Especially “young, active and very fresh couples” would have used the day or people who wanted to show someone their interest in order to initiate a new relationship.

A big difference to the annual or wedding day, for which you naturally have to be connected for a long time.

“There was something exclusive about it in a way.

That has been broadened a bit today, ”said Hirschfelder.

February 14th has partly become an “attention day”, on which you can also give something to relatives or friends.

"It has become a cipher, and very trade-driven."

However, this is difficult in Corona times: After all, you can no longer get the bouquet of red roses so easily before visiting a restaurant.

And the stroll to the jeweler is no longer necessary due to the pandemic.

So just leave it out?

Couple counselor Sigrid Sonnenholzer advises against this if you usually celebrate February 14th.

"For some couples, this is the only day when you take care of each other a little and pay attention to each other."

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Instead of going to a restaurant, this year, for example, you could cook at home.

If that doesn't work out well, the courses can be divided up: “One takes care of the starter and dessert, the other takes care of the main course.

Everyone is then also responsible for ensuring that the kitchen is then clean again, for setting the table and so on, then you can spend a wonderful evening together. "

If you normally like to go dancing, you can find videos on YouTube with instructions for a nice dance evening at home.

And instead of going to the cinema together, the film experience during the pandemic has long been taking place in the living room at home - with cola and popcorn, of course.