Happy Valentine’s Day! Each year on February 14, Valentine’s Day is celebrated by many people throughout the world for the day is celebrated as a holiday in several countries. The norm is to exchange cards, candy, gifts, and flowers with a special “valentine” and loved ones. According to the History Channel website, approximately 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. According to the Greeting Card Association, women purchase approximately 85 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards.

Valentine’s Day greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today is a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine to Catherine of Valois.

By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards and postcards with printed text were an easy way for people to express their emotions for Valentine’s Day.

The photograph featured this week shows and image of a Valentine’s Day card in the Lyon County Museum’s collection. The Valentine’s Day card has “For Son on Valentine’s Day” printed on the front. The card was given to Doug Eggen from his parents, George and Bernetta in 1959.

The Lyon County Museum is closed on Monday, February 16 for Presidents’ Day. The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.