Old-Fashioned Valentine's Day Traditions We Wish Would Come Back

Before the days of buying cards in bulk, people of all ages used to design and create unique cards from scratch. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, lovers spent considerable effort creating something beautiful (you can thank Shakespeare and Chaucer for adding romance to the holiday). Your skill set doesn't really matter here—it's the thought and effort you put into a DIY card that does.

Long before Hallmark and the mass-produced greeting card industry existed, people used to send one another Valentines that were customized with personal messages. In fact, handwritten holiday cards were the norm until 1847, according to The Huffington Post. Though pre-written cards are more convenient, there's nothing quite like a one-of-a-kind love letter from your sweetheart.

If you really want to go all out with a handmade of expression of your love, take a cue from the Victorians and make a "puzzle purse." These gifts were a series of love letters that were meant to be read separately, but also fit together to create a beautiful design and message, according to Bustle. Use the Valentine puzzle purse tutorial from VictorianTreasury.com to make one at home this year.

Rather than dropping a ton of money on a fancy dinner for two, couples used to attend Valentine's Day dinner, cocktails, and dance parties in private homes across the U.S. This more affordable celebration is also a great way to spend the day with all the loves in your life, including friends and family.

One tradition that seems to have disappeared completely is the exchanging of ornate chocolate boxes. Richard Cadbury, the heir of the renowned British chocolate empire, is credited with creating the first heart-shaped box for the holiday, according to History.com. He purposely sold chocolates in a beautiful box hoping the customers would treasure the pretty packing and use it again to store other items like love letters. (In fact, antique Victorian-era Cadbury boxes exist today and are considered valuable heirlooms.) Who knows, maybe your homemade box will be a collectible one day, too!

Though it's never been quite as popular in the United States, Denmark couples have traditionally celebrated the romantic holiday by sending one another pressed white flowers called snowdrops, according to The Huffington Post. The best part? These dried flowers last much longer than fresh ones.

In addition to a handwritten or homemade card, you could compose a sweet poem for the one you love. According to some historians, the oldest Valentine in history was a poem, written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans. You can make yours cheeky, sentimental, or lovey dovey—either way, we're sure the recipient will be thrilled by whatever message you craft.

If you're going to give a mass-produced card to your partner or spouse this year, give a card that shows off your sense of humor, like the Victorians did. "They had a wicked sense of humor," Jayne Burgess, the manager of the Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections explained on the university's website. They didn't take themselves too seriously and used their cards as a chance to make their partner laugh.