A Twist on Valentine Traditions

Sure, Valentine’s Day can be a little cheesy, but it’s a good time to pause and make sure the ones we love know how we feel.

From Cupid to conversation hearts, there are plenty of things traditionally associated with the holiday. This includes how people celebrate: buying a card, flowers, chocolate or candy.

With a few small shifts, those traditional celebrations can get a little more personal. Pen your own love letter or poem. Bundle or create your own floral masterpiece. Make your own chocolates or candy to give your valentine—or better yet, make them together.

Inspired to shake up the traditional Valentine’s Day celebration? Turn to items in our collection to help:

Love Notes

Valentines by Ted Kooser
“How to Write a Love Poem” from The Chicago Tribune

For inspiration on what to say and how to say it, look to the collection of Valentine’s Day poems from Ted Kooser, a former poet laureate. In 1986, Kooser sent a poem on a postcard to 50 women friends. That tradition continued for more than 20 years—each year, Kooser would write a new poem and send it to a growing list of women all over the country. Inspired by Kooser’s tradition, The Chicago Tribune shared expert tips to bring out the poet in all of us in this related 2006 article.

Getting the Knack: 20 Poetry Writing Exercises by Stephen Dunning and William Stafford

A poem doesn’t have to be worthy of publishing to mean something to your valentine. If you’re new to the world of poetry and looking for guidance on how to write your own, grab a notebook and check out this book for practical tips on how to start.

To the Letter: A Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing by Simon Garfield

How many emails, tweets and texts do we send every week? How many letters do we write a year? While this book isn’t a how-to guide so much as a testament to the importance and impact of letters, it will inspire you to put pen to paper and give the gift of a heartfelt letter.

Flowers

The Book of Fresh Flowers by Malcolm Hillier

Let the flowers do the talking. Learn about symbolic flower meanings to help choose which ones to give your loved one. You’ll also find practical information about tools, materials and containers, as well as ideas specifically tailored to Valentine’s Day.

The Art of Flower Arranging by Paula Pryke

Do you know your valentine’s favorite color? Turn to this book and its beautiful images for a breakdown of common flowers by color. You’ll also find seasonal palettes so you can easily figure out what types of flowers to include in, for instance, your hand-bundled bouquet of winter reds.

Arranging Roses by Emma Gray

Go beyond the bouquet. Whether you want to create a table arrangement, wreath, swag or headdress, or dress up a candle box, jar or terracotta pot, you’ll find plenty of ideas for how to arrange and what to create with fresh and dried flowers in this guide.

Chocolate and Candy

Chocolate Lover’s Cookbook for Dummies by Carole Bloom

Looking for something for your sweetheart’s sweet tooth? Use this book as your foolproof guide. With an extensive array of recipes, you’ll find everything from treats that require minimal baking, classic baked staples like cakes and pies, and creative takes on dessert. Thanks to this book, your own chocolate will be easy to prep—and even easier to consume.

Death by Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers

There are people who like chocolate and then there are chocoholics. If your valentine is the latter, turn to this cookbook. Sorted by increasing levels of chocolate, the cookbook features recipes alongside full-page images, tips on each recipe from the chef and fun facts about chocolate.

Old-Fashioned Candymaking by June Roth

Patience is a virtue, particularly when it comes to love—and candy. In this book of nostalgic candy recipes, you’ll even find a recipe for patience, a caramel-like candy with nuts. A sweet treat made with love, it takes a long time to stir, but is made even better if you take turns stirring with your loved one.