Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.

Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world.

According to Jack B. Oruch, the first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote:

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day, Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make”.

Which means, “For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” – Very sweet!

In light of all this lovey stuff, and as a person who looks for and enjoys life’s absurdities, Valentine’s Day ranks pretty high on that list, especially if you take into account some of the vintage cards out there. And, with a message to suit every kind of lover, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favourites that all include bees.

Sure, maybe I’m not one of the last of the great romantics, but life would be pretty boring if we couldn’t laugh at ourselves and our basic human conditioning from time to time.

This one is vaguely threatening!

Happy Valentine’s Day!