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Valentine's Day origins

We all know that February 14th is Valentine's Day, but what you might be unaware of is that the origins of the event as we know it are largely unknown.

There are many stories that historians claim hold the key to explaining why Valentine's Day became an occasion for celebrating love, affection and romance, but a definitive answer has never been uncovered.

So to help you make up your own mind about the true origins of Valentine's Day we've compiled the various legends right here, in one convenient place.

You're welcome!

Secret romance

During the third century, it's claimed Roman Emperor Claudius II believed single men made better soldiers than those with wives, so he outlawed marriage for all young men, believing it would provide him with a stronger army.

A priest by the name of Valentine disagreed with Claudius's theory and continued to perform marriage ceromonies unbeknownst to the Emporer. Unfortunately, Claudius discovered this and ordered Valentine to be executed for his betrayel.

Lupercalia

Still in ancient Rome, a different theory suggests that Valentines Day is actually related to Lupercalia, a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, which also took place in the middle of February.

During Lupercalia all the young women in the city would place their names in a giant urn. Single men would then pull a name out of the urn and become paired with his chosen woman.

However, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D, this tradition was outlawed as it was seen as 'un-Christian'.

Despite this, it's believed by many that Valentines forever became synonomous with romance simply because of it's association with the Lupercalia festival.

Love letters

Another tragic legend suggests that a prisoner by the name of Valentine wrote romantic letters to the woman he loved but could never be with, signing off one such love note with the words 'From your Valentine', hence the expression we know today.

Love birds

During the Middle Ages, both the French and English were said to have recognised Februrary 14th as the start of the mating season for birds. As a consequence many began associating the date with romance, which eventually evolved into the Valentine's Day we celebrate today.

This theory is supported by a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1382, to honor the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, part of which read, "For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."

Modern times

Regardless of which of these stories are actually true (if any), Valentine's Day has become one of the most well-established occasions on the modern calendar, with over 1 billion Valentines cards sent each year.

And if you're in the market for unique Valentines gifts rather than the usual chocolates and flowers, DotComGiftShop have an excellent range to choose from.

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Christmas gifts - the rules of the road

The exchange of Christmas gifts can be fraught with difficulties. How do you behave when someone gives you a present you don’t want? Should you buy a little something for your boss or your child’s teacher? How much should you spend?

To help you to avoid the common pitfalls, we’ve come up with a selection of Christmas gift etiquette top tips.

Always show gratitude

You may have been given a book you’ve already read, or a pullover that’s perfectly hideous but always try to make your first reaction one of pleasure - then ask for the receipt. There’s nothing wrong with being honest, and to be fair, a gift stuffed to the back of the wardrobe is a waste of the giver’s money. But the way that you respond is extremely important - try this: ‘Wow, I love this author, that’s such a great choice. Actually I’ve read this one, but there’s another I’m just dying to get my hands on - do you mind if I exchange it?’

Set a budget

We live in tough economic times, so be honest about what you can afford to spend and discuss the issue with family and close friends. The chances are that they’ll be relieved - many of us are in the same boat. Agree a budget and stick to it or the joy of Christmas will be ruined by worries about where you’re going to find the money to pay for your purchases.

Don’t indulge in ‘gift wars’

Trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’’ can have a very negative influence on your bank balance and can spoil a perfectly good friendship. Resist the temptation to outdo friends and relations by buying them ever more extravagant gifts. Remember that when it comes to gift giving, it’s the thought that counts: you’re showing the person that you care about them.,

Don’t go over the top

If you are in the fortunate position of having plenty of money to spend this Christmas, then resist the temptation to shower family and friends with expensive gifts. Your big-hearted gesture could be misinterpreted as showing off or and perhaps worse, you may make the recipient feel inadequate if they are unable to return your generosity. Keep your focus on the people you are buying for, and enjoy the giving.

To regift or not to regift

It’s a tricky question but if you do decide to pass on gifts made to you then make sure you check thoroughly that the item is in ‘brand new’ condition. Check also that there is no connection whatsoever between the original giver and the new recipient. If in doubt, don’t do it: if discovered you’ll cause offense. If you do decide that it is safe to recycle an unwanted gift, keep its provenance strictly to yourself, or risk being seen as a cheapskate.

A gift for the boss?

It’s fine to give a Christmas gift to your boss if you wish to but there are a couple of things to beware of. First, never try to outdo your boss buy buying him or her an expensive present - you’ll appear to be sucking up which can cause awkwardness - and your colleagues won’t like you for it either. Second, it’s probably best to avoid inappropriate gifts as they could cause embarrassment or even offense.

Shop less

Browsing the shops at Christmas time can be an unpleasant experience. High pressure on sale staff to achieve good results can easily be passed on to the customer. Here at DotComGiftShop, browsing is easy, leisurely and we can even take care of postage too. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect gift to suit your taste and your wallet.

DotComGiftShop - taking care of all your Christmas gift conundrums

Cats v Christmas Trees

Cat owners look forward, with a mixture of dread and glee, to that time of year when the Christmas tree is installed and decorated.

Dread...because inevitably, within minutes, said cat will have jumped into said tree, dismantling all your hard work.

Glee...because quite often, the resulting mayhem is quite simply hilarious.

We’ve picked some of our favourite video clips of mischievous moggies doing their worst.

I ain’t budging

This cat is extremely happy with her new hiding place and refuses to be moved.

That pesky angel!

Gracie the kitten has really got it in for the Christmas tree angel. Whatever her beef, it’s angel 1, kitty 0...this time.

Kittens in my Christmas tree - la la la la la!

Two kittens frolicking in a Christmas tree to a very irritating but catchy soundtrack: la la la la la!

Cutest kittens ever

Pudgy little British Blue kittens having fun with Christmas tree decorations.

The three amigos

Three very cute kittens try their best to topple one sorry looking Christmas tree.

Although we don't sell cats, DotComGiftShop does sell Christmas trees and a whole bunch of gorgeous Christmas decorations. Everything you need, in fact, to make your home more Christmassy.

The Nintendo 64 Kid

No collection of Christmas clips would be complete without this well-loved classic. Here, a very excited boy and his little sister freak out over the Nintendo 64 they’ve just unwrapped.

Yes, there’s some serious screaming, yes, there’s also some whooping and a whole lot of air-punching - well worth a watch.

The emotional rollercoaster

When young Michael unwraps his Wii, he embarks on an extraordinary emotional rollercoaster.

Surprise turns to elation as he laughs and laughs, and then cries and cries, before it all gets too much and he starts to feel a wee bit sick and has to dash off to the bathroom! Ah, bless!

The best victory dance

This kid goes nuts when he unwraps his XBox 360.

‘I never thought it would come!’, he cries, before launching into a very funky little victory dance, while the family dog howls and barks with delight in the background. Wonderful stuff.

Now I can rock n roll!

In true rock chick style, this little girl goes wild for her Hannah Montana Sing-a-long Guitar.

She screams (and screams), stage-drops to her knees and finishes with some serious air guitar, declaring ‘Now I can rock n roll!’. Hannah would be proud!

The cat lover

In this clip, 10-year-old Maddy finds her mum and dad have bought her a very cute little kitten for Christmas. She’s sooo excited that she starts to hyperventilate - in a cute, funny kind of way, of course.

And if you’re a cat lover too, there’s plenty of footage of this Christmas kitten frolicking about and being generally adorable.

The tear-jerker

Ok, now we move from crazy freak-outs to a mini tearjerker. No histrionics or screaming, there’s just pure, unadulterated joy on this little boy’s face as he opens his Christmas present to find a bunny rabbit inside.

Lovely kid, lovely bunny - someone, pass the tissues!

Scary dinosaur

So what happens when you’ve misjudged your child and the present you think is exciting is actually nothing short of terrifying?

Well, just watch what happens to this poor little chap when the remote-controlled dinosaur his grandparents have bought reduces him to tears.

Books for Christmas?!

Kids can be brutally honest and Christmastime is no exception. When this feisty 3-year-old unwraps one of his presents to find some picture books, he is not amused.

‘Books for Christmas? What the heck is that?’ This little kid is well and truly miffed! He soon recovers, though, and moves on to the next gift.

Mums freak out too

So far, it’s been all about the kids, but we can assure you that mums are also capable of a really good freak-out. So what’s the special gift that’s got this mum going? A diamond ring? A new car? No - this lady is over the moon about a vacuum cleaner.

She screams, she claps and she even does a little ‘I’ve got my Dyson dance’. A must-see.

Doggy freak-out

Last but not least, we see what happens when the shoe is on the other paw. This little doggy is super excited about her Christmas gift - an enormous dog bone.

She just doesn’t know where to begin and ends up jumping up and down on the bed in rapture. That’s one happy pooch!

Make the people in your life happy this year by buying them Christmas gifts they'll love. Check out all the goodies we have to offer at DotComGiftShop.

Mental Christmas lights

Everyone enjoys brightening up the home with beautiful Christmas lights and decorations but some people go much further than others in their quest to add a bit of sparkle to the dark winter nights.

Not satisfied with a tree and a few strings of fairy lights, some people have taken Christmas decorations to a whole new level with an ambition to either blind, astonish or repulse passersby. And from the look of some of the photos below, there are even a few who seem more intent on making their displays visible from space.

Whether you are one of those who prefers a few simple lights on the tree or someone who likes to give the National Grid a scare from time to time, take a look at some of these shining examples of crazy Christmas lights and get inspired you to deck your halls with equal gusto!

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NYC

Each year the residents of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, transform their front porches and yards into astonishing Christmas light displays. Often referred to as the "miracle mile", the Christmas lights can be found on 84th Street between 10th and 12th Avenues. It is estimated that every year as many as 100,000 people visit the Heights at Christmas to bask in the festive glory.

East Peoria Festival of Lights

Batman, the USS Enterprise, ships, dragons, whales and reindeer are just a few of the amazing Christmas lights displays at the East Peoria Festival of lights. Event organisers call it “A million sparkles of excitement” and it's easy to see why.

Gatineau, Quebec

This remarkable house is in Gatineau, Quebec and is extremely famous amongst people in the region who flock from all around to come and see the fantastic lights display. The owner of the house never let’s people down and pulls out all the stops year after year in a wonderful display of not just beautiful festive lights but plenty of Christmas spirit too.

New Jersey, USA

Covering every feasible part of both the house and the garden this Christmas light display is the result of rigorous planning and patience and is the talk of the town every Christmas. For those who want to mark their mark this Christmas, pay attention to these guys.

Oxford Street, London

Extremely fitting for a Christmas light display in rainy old London, these beautiful umbrellas and sparkling showers can be found on Oxford street. They show that you can always think outside the Christmas decorations box and come up with many beautiful, alternative ways of expressing your Christmas cheer.

PEC Lights, Johnson City, Texas

These magical lights create an enchanted wood every Christmas in Johnson City, Texas. Aptly put up by the Pedernales Electric Cooperative right outside their own building, these lights need never fail as they should always know who to call!

If you're hoping to illuminate your own home with the distinctive twinkle of Christmas lights, make sure you check out the gorgeous Dotcomgiftshop range!

Christmas Gifts for Your Ex

Breaking up is hard to do at the best of times but if it happens near the Christmas season it’s all the more depressing.

You may be sad, angry, confused or all three, but rest assured that with the new year just around the corner, a fresh start lies ahead.

Until then, a good spot of indulgence and whinging will help you through the emotional odyssey of loss and disillusionment.

To distract you from the unenviable task of questioning your faith in mankind, a spot of fantasising about all the horrible things that could happen to whoever broke your heart may very well help.

To start you off on your imaginative exploits, we’ve put together a list of revenge and retribution Christmas gifts that are perfect for any ex, so put down your tissues and enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

£5 Gift voucher for a taxidermist

As a subtle way of telling your ex to get stuffed, vouchers for taxidermy are a good choice. Caution is advised for those who had a pet with their former lover as this might send out some rather dark and unnecessary connotations. But for petless pawns of post-relationship perturbations - go for it.

Subscription to Asphalt magazine

To get back at the person in your life who walked all over you, make sure they have ample reading in their soon-to-be-found singledom with a subscription to Asphalt Contractor magazine. Filled with incredible insights into the exciting world of pavements, this magazine is a great way to tell your new ex to hit the road and keep on walking.

Voucher for Fat Camp

This one is mainly for the boys wanting to reach out to the girl that left them and show them how they really feel. For every time you were asked “do I look fat in this dress?” you need not utter a word, simply write ‘For Shamu’ on an envelope and let the voucher do the talking.

Pile cream

If your ex was rather retentive or just a pain in the bum, then pile cream is the gift that keeps on giving. Imagine their face on Christmas morning as they rip the wrapping paper off their very own tube of pile medication in front of all their nearest and dearest!

Nothing

To be honest, the most mature and sensible thing to do if you can’t do anything nice, is to do nothing at all. No matter what happened to cause your relationship to come to an end, spending ages picking out a hurtful and horrible present won’t change anything and will only hold you back from moving on with your own life.

But if you must insist on being immature, you might as well go all out and find a sealable tin into which you can express yourself artistically. Just make sure you label it properly so that it doesn’t end up going to your Nan by mistake.

Now that you're feeling better about your freedom, do remember that for all the lovely people in your life, DotComGiftShop has tonnes of ideas including a huge range of unusual Christmas gifts.

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