Until 1850, Americans relied upon British-made cards or homemade creations to express their Valentine greetings. Until a young Massachusetts woman named Esther Allen Howland, now called "The Mother of the Valentine," made the momentous decision to mass produce her own creations.

But how did Cupid, the Roman mythological god of desire, affection and love become associated with Valentine's Day?

He is very closely connected to his mother Venus, the goddess of love. Cupid inherited his LEFT, TOP, Victorian Roses journal by Pat Carlson
LEFT, BOTTOM, Hila Rosenberg dollhouse miniature book by IGMA Artisan Sara Alvarez
ABOVE, Valentine's cards by CDHM Forum Member, Kimberly mother's powerful ties to the emotion of love, and is believed to be even more powerful than she because he also held power over Hades (the underworld), all the creatures of the sea and even the gods of Olympus. Love makes the world go round, after all.