Why we celebrate Valentine’s Day is something shrouded in the romanticised mists of time. There seems to be no definitive answer that scholars can agree upon. Confusingly there were many early Christian martyrs called Valentine. It’s one of those traditions that has slowly crept into our cultural, religious and commercial canon accruing more significance through the centuries.
A bit of misty Valentine history
The story that we all run with relies upon a vague idea of a saint who was martyred for his beliefs. As for the romantic connection and the sending of anonymous cards the haze becomes even thicker. According to an early tradition Saint Valentine restored the sight to the blind daughter of his jailer, with numerous later stories relating his martyrdom to love via his acts of joining in marriage early Christian couples (who were forbidden to marry by the emperor). Much later in the 18th-century it was claimed that he wrote to the jailer’s daughter, prior to his execution, signing off with the valediction ‘Your Valentine’.
February the 14th is celebrated as St. Valentine's Day in various Christian denominations, although ‘…nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February the fourteenth.’
The celebration of Saint Valentine is not known to have had any romantic connotations until Chaucer's poetry about "Valentine's Day" in the 14th century. Since then, it has been expanded upon, with poems aplenty and anonymous protestations of love rocketing with the emergence of the Valentine’s Day Card, aided by the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840. In 1868 Cadbury’s started manufacturing decorated heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates. Fast forward to the present and we find that in the UK around £1.3 billion is spent annually upon items such as chocolates and romantically themed gifts related to St Valentine.
Make it special
If you want to join the party and push the love boat out a bit further than just gifting a box of chocolates or a bunch of red roses, then you could do a lot worse than book a romantic night away with the one you adore. In fact, sharing an experience has proven to have a more lasting impact than buying something tangible.
A carnival of eclectic romantic charm awaits those who book a night together at the Camelot Castle Hotel. It’s a place that really embraces its idiosyncrasies and is ideally positioned both literally and culturally to light the flame of romance or rekindle those dormant passions! Stay in one of our wonderful and recently renovated rooms, which are furnished with four-poster beds, and play out your own story of Sir Lancelot and Guinevere.
Share that loving feeling
Book a romantic dinner for two, even if you haven’t secured a room for the night. Remember that we are more likely to feel content and build stronger bonds with the people we care for and love, through sharing food and food experiences. At Camelot Castle Hotel we have Irina’s Restaurant where you can wine and dine with your loved one and enjoy the locally sourced produce lovingly prepared by one of our chefs whilst taking in the view towards Tintagel, the bridge and the sea beyond. Every one of your fellow diners will probably be in a similar mindset, so there’s bound to be a collective feeling of romance permeating the room.
If you can’t make it for an evening rendezvous how about joining us for an afternoon assignation? Our speciality Camelot Afternoon Teas are mouth-wateringly tempting. Choose from finger sandwiches, Russian honey cake, brownie, macaroons, cupcakes, scones, Cornish strawberry preserve or a Cornish clotted cream tea. And for those wishing to be a bit more daring, there’s our Royal Afternoon Tea which boasts all of the above treats as well as salmon Caviar and a glass of Dom Pérignon pink Champagne.
Out and about
It would be remiss if whilst staying with us you didn’t explore some of the area together. There are several walking routes close by that take in various points of interest including the ruins of Tintagel Castle itself, originally commissioned in the 13th century by Richard, Earl of Cornwall; Barras Nose – a rocky headland located just east of the castle and the first piece of land ever bought by the National Trust and Tintagel Old Post Office – a 600-year-old Cornish Longhouse which retains its slate paved hall and fireplace.
If you want to travel a bit further then head off to St Nectan’s Glen for an enchanting woodland walk. It’s bound to work its ancient magic upon you as you wander to the waterfall under a canopy of ancient ivy clad trees and ferns.
Even further afield, but still within easy reach of our hotel is Port Isaac – Port Wenn in the TV series Doc Martin. As a traditional Cornish fishing village its charm gently announces itself in a sea-weathered fashion. If you’re looking for a quiet stroll with someone you cherish then this is the place for you.
Be spontaneous
Now’s the time to think about retreating into a realm enveloped in courtly romance and showing the one that you treasure how much you really care. What better place than Camelot Castle Hotel to do this? Book your stay now.