The elegant world of Downton Abbey perfectly captures the romance and refinement of Valentine’s Day celebrations in the early 20th century. During this golden age of propriety and passion, February 14th was marked by elaborate social customs that would make even the Dowager Countess approve.
The Art of Valentine’s Correspondence
In the 1910s and 1920s, the exchange of Valentine’s cards was an intricate social dance. Ladies and gentlemen of means selected ornate cards adorned with silk ribbons, embossed flowers, and delicate lace paper. These weren’t the simple cards we know today – they were works of art, often hand-painted and embellished with actual fabric and pressed flowers.
The Language of Love
The Edwardian era prized subtlety in romantic expression. Young ladies might receive cards signed with merely an initial, leading to delicious speculation in drawing rooms across England. Popular Valentine’s verses of the time were remarkably sophisticated, with references to classical literature and poetry – a far cry from today’s simple declarations.
Courtship and Valentine’s Traditions
For the upper classes, Valentine’s Day offered rare opportunities for romantic interaction within the strict boundaries of social etiquette. A carefully chaperoned Valentine’s tea might be arranged, where young men could present their intentions through the gifting of flowers, each bloom carrying its own secret message in the Victorian language of flowers that still persisted into the Edwardian era.
Below Stairs Celebrations
While the family above stairs exchanged elaborate cards and gifts, the servants weren’t left out of the Valentine’s festivities. Kitchen maids might receive simple penny postcards from admirers, while footmen and valets could leave small tokens for their sweethearts among the household staff – though always under the watchful eye of the butler and housekeeper.
A Valentine’s Menu Fit for Nobility
The Edwardian era was known for its elaborate dining, and Valentine’s Day was no exception. A proper Valentine’s dinner might include:
- Oysters served on beds of ice with mignonette sauce
- Clear turtle soup (a delicacy of the time)
- Roasted pheasant with bread sauce
- Charlotte Russe decorated with crystallized rose petals
- Hand-moulded chocolate truffles served with coffee in the drawing room
The Gift of Music
Evening entertainment often centred around the piano in the drawing room, where romantic ballads and love songs would be performed. Popular Valentine’s songs of the era included “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” (1910) and “Love’s Old Sweet Song” (1884), which remained favourites well into the 1920s.
Modern Echoes of a Gracious Age
While we may no longer observe the elaborate social rituals of the Edwardian era, their Valentine’s celebrations remind us of a time when love was expressed through carefully chosen words, meaningful gestures, and exquisite attention to detail. Perhaps we could all benefit from bringing a touch of this refinement back to our modern Valentine’s celebrations.
In an age before text messages and emoji hearts, the post-Edwardian celebration of Valentine’s Day represented love at its most elegant—a celebration where every card, flower, and gesture carried deep meaning and romance flourished within the bounds of propriety. It was truly, as Lady Mary might say, “perfectly lovely.”
