Whatever you think about the commercial side of Valentine’s Day, there’s no denying that it’s a great opportunity to show your other half how much you love them. Valentine’s Day may be the second most common holiday for card-giving, but there are plenty of more fun ways to express yourself without the help of a sappy poem and some wilting flowers.
Before we launch into the fun ways to make your Valentine’s Day memorable, let’s look at the history of this unique holiday. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the UK, the USA, Canada, Mexico, France and Australia. People have been sending written Valentine’s since around 1400, but it wasn’t until the 1900s that printed cards started to take over hand-written notes. In the USA, a woman called Esther A Howland became known as the “Mother of the Valentine” after she started mass-producing cards crafted from lace, ribbon and colour pictures. Today, around 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year and women purchase around 85% of these.
Even the biggest Valentine’s Day sceptic can find something they love in the holiday. You don’t have to buy into the heart-shaped balloons and shocking pink cards to make the most of this holiday. Instead, you should focus on making it all about your relationship. After all, Valentine’s Day lands in the middle of February, and what else is there to do in February?
The mouth is inherently erogenous, so cater to your desires by preparing food that is sensuous and exotic. We recently wrote a post about the different aphrodisiacs you can try to help set the mood. Cook a meal with your partner this Valentine’s Day and make it all about the senses. Think about what looks, smells, tastes and feels completely divine and build a meal around this.
Rather than focussing on the throwaway culture of Valentine’s Day, why not focus on giving a gift that is for the both of you. Branching out and trying a new sex toy is one of the best ways connect with your partner and spice things up, particularly if things have been getting pretty stale. It can be a surprise, or you could choose the toy together to help build intimacy.
Watching movies together doesn’t have to be run of the mill. Pick a saucy film and try recreating your favourite scenes. You don’t have to go straight to 50 Shades of Grey, but if you’re lacking inspiration, this is a pretty easy place to start. Other solid movie suggestions include The Graduate, Cruel Intentions and Secretary.
Being away from your partner over Valentine’s Day can be tough, even if you don’t really believe in the holiday. If you’re in the midst of a long-distance romance, try injecting some passion into your special day by learning the art of sexting. You can also try pleasuring your partner long-distance with the help of a handy Bluetooth controlled vibrator.
Yes, Valentine’s Day lands in the middle of the week, so your other half might need a little more coaxing to get in the mood. Invest in a quality massage oil and learn to work your magic on their aches and knots. We’ve shared our top tips on how to give an intimate massage on the blog before, so you don’t even need to do that much research!
If sex on Valentine’s Day is a priority for you, don’t make it wait until after dinner and that movie. Launch straight in and get it out of the way before you even get your date night started. Take the pressure off the rest of the night and get it started with a steamy romp. You might find that you don’t need those fancy dinner reservations after all.
If you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day, there’s no reason you can’t make the day all about the most important person in your life – you. Get yourself that shiny new sex toy, order your ideal takeaway, put on your favourite movie and spend some quality time with yourself. You’ll have far more fun than if you head out on an awkward Tinder date or let your friends set you up with a stranger! Here’s our guide to the best male sex toys, and the best female sex toys.
