Although there continues to be disagreement about the origin of St. Valentines day, it was believed for many years that February 14 was the Saint’s birthday. As far as starting the trend of sending flowers, here is a story of old:
Charles, Duke of Orléans, one of the fondest lovers in all history, never paid a compliment to a lady without sending a basket of flowers to her with verses enclosed.
My lips I’ll softly lay,
Upon her heavenly cheek.
Dyed like the dawning day,
As polished ivory sleek.
And in her ear I’ll say,
“Oh, thou bright morning star.”
“Tis I that came so far,
My Valentine to seek.”
Charles was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, and sent to the Tower of London. He spent the next twenty years in English prisons, where he wrote poetry in English.
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