Valentine's Day gets a bit of a bad rap as a slightly cheesy, pointless exercise in consumerism, and it's understandable why. It seems like aisles of supermarkets start to swell with sentimental pink and red products before our Christmas trees have even hit the pavement.
Often people assume that Valentine's Day, like Halloween, is an American affectation, but we've actually been celebrating it a lot longer than you may realise. The first written record of February 14 as a day of romantic celebration comes courtesy of Chaucer in 1375, and by the middle of the 18th century, it had become typical for friends and lovers of all classes to trade tokens of affection.
Although Valentine's Day in 2023 is big business, you don't need to buy into the cliches to share a bit of love, and fortunately, Bristol is a city bursting with artisans and businesses producing unique and original wares that can help show that special someone just how much you care.
