February is widely known as the month for love and romance. With that idea in place, it makes sense that it has been identified as Creative Romance Month and National Wedding Month.

It is very common for people to get engaged on Valentine’s Day or host a wedding after a romantic summer engagement. While most people won’t get a chance to get married this month, it doesn’t mean that they can’t practice 28 days of Creative Romance. Watch romantic movies or pick up a new romance novel. Perhaps you’d like to pick up a copy of The Earl’s Secret Treasure or After Sunset, two novels written by Armijo alumna Nikki Renee. Check her out here: https://rb.gy/1ucmea

Send someone flowers anonymously, or have a romantic gift dropped off by Amazon. Create a series of cards to be hidden where someone special can find them. Learn the language of fans (https://rb.gy/dblncn) or pick up your skills on one of the Romance languages. Sure, they are named because they are related to Roman history, but they do sound romantic. What can you do to celebrate Creative Romance Month, with or without someone special to dote on?

Of course, the most familiar love connection of the month is Valentine’s Day on February 14. The history of Valentine’s Day is quite blurry but interesting. It is also very widely celebrated in Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. Tradition says that it dates as far back to the third century in the Roman Empire, starting with a Roman named Saint Valentine. He had sent a letter to the person he had fallen in love with while imprisoned and signed it off as “from your valentine.”

There is also evidence of the 14th being celebrated during the Middle Ages. The day was romanticized in literature by authors like Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer. And the classic “Roses are red, Violets are blue” poem from the Faire Queene.