Believe it or not, the first Valentine’s Day card was sent by a Frenchmen. When Charles, Duke of Orleans, was held in the Tower of London after being captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 he wrote poems for his wife Bonne, real Valentines. About sixty of them remain; they can be seen in the British Museum.
The French celebrate Valentine’s Day with gifts such as chocolates and flowers. Expect to see long queues outside chocolate shops as each customer chooses an individual selection of handmade chocolates for their amour. Le chocolatier doesn’t compromise on service just because there’s a crowd.
French restaurants offer fixed price candlelit dinners for couples and because every table in a restaurant is restricted to two people it an be very difficult to get a reservation for the 14th February.
If you can’t get to France for Valentine’s day, why not bring a little French romance to your declaration of love? Crazy for them? “ Je t’aime à la folie.” Love them with all your heart? “Je t’aime de tout mon coeur.”
My favourite is from Frenchwoman George Sand: There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. “Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé. ”
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