History and Hearsay
On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay?
History and Hearsay
The Rude, Cruel, and Insulting ‘Vinegar Valentines’ of the Victorian Era
Valentine’s Day is known as a time for people to send love notes. IN THE 1840S lacy valentines with cursive flourishes and lofty poems were sent by the thousands. But what do you do, if you didn’t love the person who had set their eyes on you? Well, you could send that unlucky person a “vinegar valentine” Back then, they were called “mocking,” “insulting,” or “comic” valentines. These were commercially bought postcards that were less beautiful than their love-filled counterparts, and contained an insulting poem and illustration. They were sent anonymously, so the receiver had to guess who hated him or her; as if this weren’t bruising enough, the recipient ALSO had to pay the postage on delivery. Nothing like getting surprise hate mail from a would-be lover on February 14th.
SOURCE:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/vinegar-valentines-victorian
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nothing-says-i-hate-you-vinegar-valentine-180962109/