With Valentine's Day just around the corner, there's never been a better time to treat someone special to a gift they'll treasure forever.

The History Of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, also called St Valentines Day, traditionally takes place on the 14th February and is a holiday in which lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts to each other. 

Given their similarities, it has been suggested that Valentine's Day has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia. Taking place in mid-February, Lupercalia celebrates the coming of spring, including fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I forbid the celebrations of Lupercalia and is sometimes attributed with therefore replacing it with St Valentines Day, but the true origin is vague at best, as Valentine's Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century.

Although there were several Christian martyrs named "Valentine", the day may have also taken its name from a priest who was martyred in 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter "from your Valentine" to his jailer's daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness. Other accounts hold that it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named, though it is possible the two saints were actually one person. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.

Formal messages, or valentines, therefore first appeared in the 1500s and began being commercially printed on cards in the 1700s.

Today, Valentine's Day continues to be a day recognised by lovers across the world, with 'Galentine's Day' on February 13th also becoming increasingly popular to celebrate female friendships.

From Me, To You 

At W.Bruford, we hold in stock at our Cornfield Road, Eastbourne store a stunning selection of jewellery and gifts for that special woman in your life. 

If looking to ask her one very important question, our selection of engagement rings by British bridal jewellery brand Brown & Newirth will ensure you pull off the perfect proposal. From classic and timeless, to modern and contemporary designs, at W.Bruford our stunning collection of engagement rings cover every style, metal preference and budget, and our experienced team of bridal jewellery experts are on-hand to help you find a ring that will make her fall in love all over again.

Or maybe you're looking for a piece of jewellery that lets her know just how much she means to you. With an extensive range of diamond and coloured stone set jewellery including pendants, bracelets and earrings, that'll she treasure forever, visit our Cornfield Road store today to shop our full collection.

And Valentine's Day is not just for the ladies. We also have a selection of jewellery and gifts perfect for the special man in your life too! From designer jewellery and accessories brands Unique & Co. and Cross you'll find a contemporary selection of bracelets, rings, cufflinks and accessories, whilst at our The Beacon, Eastbourne store, you'll find an extensive range of watches from brands including Breitling, TAG Heuer, TUDOR, Tissot, Garmin and Seiko, to name but a few, as well as leather goods and accessories from brands Montblanc and Wolf.

Not sure where to start? Contact us HERE and one of our friendly & experienced team members will be in touch to help you choose a gift they'll love.

*The History Of Valentines Day: Taken from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valentines-Day