Isn't it Loverly?

             This, is a Valentine. Hundreds of thousands of these special cards are sent out once every year to loved ones throughout the globe, so there must be something special about them. But what makes them that way? Well, the first thing to do is look at the envelope that one comes in.

            The first thing to notice about the envelope is that it’s pink, one of the typical Valentine’s Day colors. This is probably because it’s a very calming hue that is associated with romance. In fact, it is the color choice for this envelope that sets the mood for the rest of the letter, serene and romantic.

            The next step, though, is the card. This is where the real magic happens.

            There’s a simple red background, evoking the holiday (again) and expressing feelings of love or passion. It’s just a solid color, not too showy, so it doesn’t detract from the picture in the center of the card. This draws attention to the two snuggly puppies rather than the card’s backdrop.

            Of course, these are puppies, they’re already attention-grabbers. The special thing about these two Dalmatians, though, is that, instead of having spots, they have hearts. This plays more into the holiday, since hearts are a big motif in Valentines and are a traditional symbol of love. Another thing to notice is where these hearts are located. The puppy on the left has a big one on his eye, and his partner has one located above her right eye. One puppy is seeing the other with “love,” and the partner seems to just be giving off hearts, just floating off her head, because she’s so happy. Plus, these puppies’ heads are touching just enough to make it seem like they’re kissing. All in all, this scene just screams “romantic” and “adorable,” setting the mood even more. It just makes the recipient want to open the card and read:

            This is probably the biggest part of a valentine. A personal message to profess one’s love or affection for another. By wishing someone a “Happy Heart Day” instead of the typical “Valentine’s Day,” the sender makes the valentine more meaningful and original. Heart Day seems like a secret nickname a couple would share for the occasion. All of the mood-setting accomplished by the other parts of the card lead up to this. Now it’s up to the sender to fill in the blank space and write a message that reveals his ethos, his feelings. Hopefully, it’s romantic.