Valentines Day, the universal celebration of love, is around the corner & so is the eternal dilemma of what to gift & what not to gift?

As soon as February dawns, markets get flooded with mushy Valentines Day gifts to lure starry-eyed shoppers. Heart shaped candy boxes, cupid figurines, chocolate boxes wrapped in red ribbons & cuddly soft-toys can be spotted in every store. So much so, that the real relevance of the day is being diluted under the effect of growing commercialization. People indulge in meaningless shopping without giving adequate thought to what they’re purchasing & for whom.

Facts about Valentines Day

It is important to understand the evolution of Valentines Day over the years & the real relevance of Valentine gifts, before beginning the hunt for memorable gifts for your loved ones.

Valentines Day, February 14, is named after a Christian martyr, named Valentine. According to Saint Valentine’s biography, the priest was also a doctor & treated patients even if they could not pay him. During a ban on marriages of Roman soldiers by the Emperor Claudius II, Saint Valentine secretly helped arrange marriages. He was martyred for practicing Christianity. On the evening before Valentine was to be martyred, he passed a love note to his jailer’s daughter that read, “From your Valentine’, & hence the day got associated with love & romance.

Initially, the day was marked by mutual exchange of love notes in the form of “Valentines”. During 19th century, greeting cards replaced handwritten notes & in the second ½ of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all kinds of mushy gifts such as roses & chocolates. Of late, the Valentine’s Day has become an occasion for gifting jewelry.

Market research substantiates that, Valentine’s Day greetings & gifts are usually exchanged by couples in love, followed by children, grandchildren & parents. However – you can also send valentine wishes & gifts to your friends, neighbors, teachers & even your latest crush.

Valentines Day Gifts that Make Someone Feel Special

While deciding on a Valentine gift for a loved one, always remember that it’s the thought that counts & not the price tag. Do you follow? Think of gifts ideas that are unique, personalized as per the recipient’s preferences & would bring a smile to the recipients face.

Look beyond the heart shaped candy boxes & cupids. Consider adding romantic poetry dedicated to the person, a romantic getaway for two or a hand written love note to your basket of gifts. Keep in mind the recipient’s tastes when shopping for a gift. If you’re considering gifting jewelry, you could buy trendy silver, kundan, costume, Victorian, Indian & fashion jewelry. Otherwise, an elegant stole, a chic handbag or a breathtaking painting could also steal your lover’s heart.

In case you can not actually be physically present to give the gifts, you can shop for gifts on line on shopping sites & then have them delivered sharp on February 14. The World Wide Web is loaded with sites that offer delivery of valentine gifts, but make certain you select your site carefully to avoid disappointment later.

Hope you select your Valentine gifts judiciously & have a great Valentines Day.

Shveta Singh is associated with http://www.CarmaWorld.com, an exclusive on line shopping site for Indian home & lifestyle products such as jewelry, handicrafts, gifts, handbags, stoles, scarves, apparels & home furnishings. Do visit http://www.CarmaWorld.com for an exquisite collection of Valentine gifts & jewelry.