Valentines Day In Datchet: Experience Romance At Ditton Manor’s Valentines Day Ball

Valentines Day Ball
Friday 18th February

Glamourous surrounding and stylish romance awaits YOU at our Exclusive upcoming Valentines Day Ball here in Datchet at Ditton Manor.

Dinner, drinks and dancing are just part of what’s on offer at this wonderfully exciting Berkshire Event that’s sure to be a very popular event this Valentines Day.

So sweet talk your favourite person, partner or secret crush and join us for an evening of romance and fun.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu

Our wonderful chef here at Ditton Manor will prepare a specialty Valentine’s Day Menu to ensure the evening is a gastronomical delight. Showcasing fabulous dishes that are all freshly prepared for the event and utilising only the freshest local ingredients, your taste buds will definitely thank you for including them in the event.

Valentine’s Day UK: History and Facts

There is no doubting the popularity of Valentine’s Day in the UK has increased in exposure over the years especially since the development and growth of the internet has created so many more digital opportunities to commemorate Valentine’s Day.

The day itself is widely understood to be held as a martyrdom commemoration of a couple of different Saints named Valentine who both happened to have met their ends on the date of February 14th.

But as with all traditions that hold their roots antiquity, so too is there far more to the emergence and evolution of St Valentine’s Day, both here in the UK and across the globe that what is widely known.

Historical evidence, however, is sadly lacking, so it’ll be up to you as our readers to decide which version of St Valentine’s Day history you prefer to believe!

Valentine’s Day: A Brief History

1. Valentines Day as we know it initially took root and evolved from the Pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia which was celebrated in Rome between the 13th and 15th of February each year. The festival celebrated fertility, and involved naked crowds parading the streets. Leather whips were used to “spank” young women as this was widely believed to improve their child baring development.
2. Two saints both named Valentine died on February the 14th and became associated as a part of why St Valentine’s Day is celebrated, namely St Valentine of Rome and St Valentine of Terni.
3. Historically, there have actually been several St Valentine’s (or variations of) from a number of different countries including Italy, Spain, Russia and Hungary.
4. The remains of St Valentine of Rome can be found in several reliquaries in Europe including churches in Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England, France and the Czech Republic.
5. Romance was first attached to the day for a couple of reasons. Firstly, in the middle-ages it was believed that most birds coupled and mated in mid-February. Secondly, prose from famous UK poet Geoffrey Chaucer was said to be the reason why gifts of affection were traded on what became know as St Valentines Day.
6. If you take similar days of love throughout the year, one could actually celebrate St Valentines Day on several dates throughout the year with commemorations of St Valentine Saints occurring in January, February, June, July and November.
7. Richard Cadbury was the first to commercialise chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the UK in 1861 with beautiful reusable heat shaped boxes containing chocolates in the shape of hearts and cupids. The boxes were then advertised as being for use to store romantic mementos or love letters.

Valentine’s Day Poetry

Taking inspiration from romantic ideals that took hold in Europe in the 1300’s where stories of star crossed lovers such as Knights and Noble Ladies was prevalent in literature at the time, Chaucer penned a number of poems that intertwined romance, history, love and saints.

Those poems became known as “Valentines”.

An excerpt from the Geoffrey Chaucer Poem PARLIAMENT OF FOWLS 

“For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate”

Valentines Day In Datchet | Valentines Day In Berkshire | Valentines Day In Langley | Valentines Day In Slough

Valentines Day in the UK

For other extra special Valentines Day offers and great value Hotel Packages in the South-East you need look no further than the fantastic Valentines Day options available at our sister properties.

Gorse Hill Hotel for Valentines Day in Surrey, Easthampstead Park for Valentines Day in Bracknell and Wokingham and Valentines Day in Buckinghamshire at Villiers Hotel