In 2021 the ‘Brooch of the Month’ was the Elizabeth Taylor Heart by Avon. For 2025 I have another Avon Heart from the 1990s. Avon began producing jewellery in 1967 with an initial collection entitled ‘The Precious Pretenders’. This month’s Red Heart is from the Hearts Afire collection produced in 1996. It is made of gilt metal with a swirly enamel red heart. Not to be confused with the jewellery company Hearts on Fire established in 1996 in Boston Massachusetts which specialises in diamond jewellery.
Red hearts have been used as a Valentine’s symbol and have been widely associated with love, passion and desire. The colour red represents an expression of romantic love and affection. An arrow through the heart can represent heartbreak and the emotional pain that comes with love.
A dozen red roses are a given as a Valentine’s present by men in the UK. It is said the red rose was Venus’s favourite flower, it is probably true as the Roman goddess of love is where the tradition stems.
In Peru it is orchids rather than roses which are given as presents on Valentine’s Day. In Brazil they don’t celebrate on 14th February, but on 12th June Saint Anthony’s day, the patron saint of marriage and matchmaking. And in Finland the 14th February is ‘Friend’s Day’ where people celebrate with friends and the official flower is a pink rose.
However you are celebrating the 14th February, be it with red roses, dinner with that special person or curling up on the sofa with a good ‘romcom’ I wish you a Happy Saint Valentine’s Day.