The History of Valentine’s Day—and Four Gifts for the Discerning Lover

 Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and many of us are looking forward to spending time with our significant others.

But although most of us celebrate Valentine’s Day, we might not all be aware of how it started.

Valentine’s Day is the holiday of Saint Valentine, but the Catholic Church actually acknowledges the existence of three Saint Valentines, all of whom were martyrs.

The most commonly held legend connecting a Saint Valentine to romance is that Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men in order to encourage them to be better, more focused soldiers, but a man named Valentine knew this was a bad idea because people need love in their lives, so he defied the emperor’s order and continued to do weddings for young soldiers illegally.

The emperor ended up putting him to death as his punishment, but not before he helped many young couples make their union official.

Another Saint Valentine legend revolves around a man named Valentine who was imprisoned and sent a letter to the girl he loved, signing it “from your Valentine”—the first-ever Valentine’s Card!

Whatever the truth, Valentine’s Day is a chance for us to show the people we love how much we care—and there’s no better way to do that than with a thoughtful gift. Since many of us have the pleasure of sharing surfing with our significant others, we suggest a surf-related gift that will help you enjoy your time together in the water.

Regardless of its origins, Valentine's Day has evolved over the centuries to become a day when people express their love and affection for one another. But there's more to the holiday than just chocolates, flowers, and romantic dinners.

For example, in Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated a bit differently than in the West. On February 14th, women give chocolates to the men in their lives as a symbol of their affection. But the men don't reciprocate until a month later on White Day, when they give gifts to the women who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day.

In South Korea, there is also a similar tradition called Black Day, where single people gather together to eat jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and commiserate about their single status.

Valentine's Day is not just for couples, it's a day to celebrate love in all its forms. So, whether you're single or in a relationship, take some time to appreciate the people in your life and show them how much you care. Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are four gift suggestions specially made for you by the Hawaiian South Shore team:

Real Sun Cover: Our customized, in-house sunscreen, Real Sun Cover is reef-friendly and skin-safe. Made from nanochemical-free zinc oxide, it has no harmful chemicals and is biodegradable. Help your lover keep their skin safe and healthy with this environmentally friendly sunscreen.

Hawaiian South Shore Wet Rash Guard: If you want to take sun protection to the next level, consider the Hawaiian South Shore wet/dry rash guard. Available in both long- and short-arm models, these rash guards provide 50 SPF sun protection that doesn’t wash away like sunscreen, as well as a super flexible fit, a high-quality zipper, and a boardshort connector so they don’t ride up.

Hawaiian South Shore Wetsuit from Japan: Formerly the Straw Hat wetsuit line, our HSS wetsuits are made in Japan with the highest-quality limestone-based rubber. They are ultra-light and form-fitting, super flexible, and better for the environment than wetsuits made of other neoprenes. When you need some insulation from the chilly February trade winds, you want the best wetsuit possible, and these fit the bill.

Hawaiian South Shore Fins: Whether your significant other rides a longboards, shortboard, mid-length, or retro fish, we have signature fins that will take their surfing and style to the next level. Featuring custom artwork and high-quality fiberglass build, these fins are the ultimate for Hawaiian style shredding.

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