Google ‘Most popular Valentines day gifts’ and you run straight into a mass of advice about where to spend your money on things – chocolates, flowers, jewelry greetings cards and meals out are the ‘go to’ options for most people.  But it hasn’t always been this way…

Did you know there are three different Saint Valentine’s, and at least as many possible stories about the origins of St Valentine’s day?

The day as we know it now took shape in the 1700’s with cards only becoming a massively popular thing in the 1840’s.  Way back, the Romans celebrated the Ides of February (the 15th) as a fertility festival.  Their idea of a good time involved sacrificing a goat (for fertility), a dog (for purification) and then wandering about gently slapping women and field crops with strips of goats hide dipped in the sacrificial blood.  Pope Gelasius reckoned this was un-Christian so he put a stop to their fun, banned it and declared 14th Feb St Valentine’s day. We’re not sure which Valentine he meant.

According to one legend Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II.  The old Emp in his wisdom outlawed marriage for young men because singletons made better soldiers. Valentine, continued to marry for young lovers in secret (until the Emporer found out and had him snuffed out). So that could explain the secrecy.

Anyway – here at Happy City, we reckon Valentine’s day could do with a makeover.

We’ve devised a Wellbeing Workout that explores the positive psychology of relationships and human bonds, looks into your personal relationships map and helps build connections amongst other things. So if you want to show you’ve got strong feelings, give them good feelings all year round by sending them along. It’s a gift that will keep on giving for both of you as it feeds the mind ways to keep body and souls together.

The workshop is on 9th March, lasts all day, and if you’d rather not take it as holiday, we can tell you how it can be justified as a worthwhile investment from work. No goats hide, sacrifices, chocolate or jewelry involved – guaranteed. Book now!

Of course, the best thing anybody can give a loved one is time and attention.  Use the 5 Ways of Wellbeing (below) as a guide to work out something to do, and you’re well on your way to a memorably happy day.