This is a guest post written by speakin_colors to help us all come up with some colorful ideas to share with our loved one this Valentine's day.

Historically speaking, Valentine was a Roman priest martyred under the emperor Claudius. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with Julia, a blind young girl who was the daughter of his jailer. One day, due to the miracle of love, Julia recovered her eyesight. The day Valentine was executed, on February 14th 270, he sent a setter to her beloved which romantically read “From your Valentine”, a phrase which was going to be popularized in the course of time.

Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day

The surprise element is the key to revive passion and to spend an unforgettable day. Common traditional gifts are valentine cards, flowers and chocolate. Roses, for example, come in a wide range of colours but it must be remembered each different colour has a different meaning. Colour definitely sends a silent, yet extremely important message, from the sender to receiver. So, before selecting roses for someone the following chart (from The Gardener’s Network) should be consulted to make sure the right message is conveyed!

Photo by teachastrid

Meanings of Rose Colors

• Red: Love, beauty, courage and respect
• White: Purity and innocence, silence or secrecy, also reverence and humility
• Pink: Appreciation,"Thank you", grace, perfect happiness, and admiration
• Dark Pink: Appreciation, gratitude
• Light Pink: Admiration, sympathy
• Yellow: Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, the promise of a new beginning
• Orange: Desire, and enthusiasm
• Red & White: Given together, these signify unity.
• Red Rosebud: A symbol of purity and loveliness
• White Rosebud: Symbolic of girlhood
• Thornless Rose: Signifies "Love at first sight".

Chocolate must be considered as that dark, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth treat that, while not exactly a love potion, is almost universally loved. Nutritionally speaking, evidence suggests that chocolate is replete with substances that may actually improve one’s mood. First of all, it comes from the seed of the theobroma tree and theobroma is Greek for “food for the gods”. Apart from being a rich source of antioxidants, chocolate contains anandamide, a fatty substance normally produced in the brain which induces feelings of euphoria. In addition, chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a stimulant which can improve the mood of depressed people. Phenylethylamine is the chemical released in the brain when people become infatuated or fall in love, hence the aphrodisiac character of chocolate. By the way, chocolate roses wrapped in red metallic paper make an extraordinary gift for Valentine’s Day.

"you're so c12h22o11 (sucrose)" ; Photo by samk

Other less conventional gifts include shower gels, body splashes, massage oils with chocolate or cherry aromas (to set a mood towards relaxation and romance), heart-shaped sachets filled with organic lavender, a teddy bear with a red or pink ribbon tied around it, a sexy pair of silk pajamas or even a heart-shaped chocolate box with its content removed and filled with an item of jewelery.

An intimate dinner ideally combines pleasure and privacy. It must be remembered that few men actually pay attention to detail so any excess could be labelled as cheesiness.

A valentine card on the table or a path of rose petals leading to the dining place (or to a spot where a special present is hidden) adds a touch of sensual mystery to the occasion.

Photo by riptheskull

As regards to clothing, women must remember that sometimes suggesting is better than explicit sexiness. A classic Chanel cocktail dress – black, short, sleeveless and extremely feminine – supplies a simple but very effective alternative. Neutral tones, such as white, grey or camel, are advisable for men.

Lighting is essential. Candles on the table, on the floor and all around the place provide the necessary amount of magic. Also appropriate for the occasion are silver-plated candle holders with motifs of angels, ceramic Cupid napkin rings and circular wax candles floating in coloured water inside tall wine glasses.

To create a different atmosphere, colourful strips of tulle can be wrapped around lamps. Another creative idea is to use coloured electric bulbs to replace transparent ones.

Photo by mark sebastian

Having a moonlit dinner in the garden (or either in the balcony, or on a terrace) can be an interesting idea.

Music adds its own colour to a passionate evening: a romantic ballad or even a serenade can be the ideal complement for an unforgettable night.

It is better not to choose very complicated or elaborate dishes if cooking is not one’s cup of tea. Dinner must be both attractive to the eyes and pleasing to the stomach, therefore it is important to avoid spicy food and to offer soft flavours instead. Sauces made with edible flowers (such as violets, roses, calendulas and apple blossoms) certainly make original recipes totally suitable for the occasion. Flower blossoms can also be used to garnish some dishes for an innovative touch of colour and elegance. Certain foods having a well-gained reputation as aphrodisiacs are asparagus, almonds, avocados, basil, bananas, carrots, garlic, ginger, honey, nutmeg, oysters, pine nuts, pineapple, raspberries and strawberries.

A romantic evening cries out for a good red wine. In Italy, a red wine is called rosso. In France, it's rouge. And in Spain, it's tinto. The best varieties are cabernet sauvignon, merlot and zinfandel.

cryptogram

Any dessert that can be shared and eaten with the hands or which can allow spoon feeding can be considered a romantic instance. Chocolate-dipped strawberries and cherries as well as heart-shaped cakes rank highest. An after-dinner coffee with shreds of chocolate sprinkled on top provides the finishing touch.

It is a well-known fact that Cleopatra used incense to seduce Mark Anthony. Likewise, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, aniseed and sandalwood can be used as sparks to ignite passion. A fruity mix of pears, lime plums and apricots or a floral combination of jasmines, roses, gardenias and peonies (or simply aromatic candles or incense sticks) can prove to be very effective.

Final words:
It must be born in mind that all these details lose their significance if the subject of conversation is not in keeping. Talk must revolve around relaxing topics (such as books, music, movies or travelling). Problems or disturbing issues, such as politics or household repairs, must be avoided. The only language that must be spoken that night (more than ever) is the universal jargon of love.

This guest post was written by speakin_colors.

Header image by yozzi