“Vinegar Valentines” were insulting greeting cards sent in the Victorian era, often accompanied by crass gifts. They criticized recipients’ appearance, intelligence, or occupation and sometimes led to arguments. They were usually sent anonymously and sometimes confiscated by postmasters.
All is love and kisses on Valentine’s Day now, but in the Victorian era, some people didn’t always have their hearts in the right place. Beginning in the 1840s and continuing until the 1940s, so-called “Vinegar Valentines” were sent by sarcastic individuals whose goal was to insult others. Poorly produced, mean-spirited greeting cards sometimes accompanied crass gifts, such as rotting meat, or even dead pigs disguised as babies. Anti-Valentines have been sent by men and women across the United States and Britain, often to reject unwelcome romantic advances.
Roses are red, violets are blue:
Millions of Valentine’s vinegar containing verses insulting the recipient’s appearance, intelligence, or occupation were sold in the 19th and 20th centuries.
These unflattering cards sometimes gave rise to arguments and even fisticuffs. Vinegar Valentines often criticized women for being bossy and men for being weak.
The cards, typically a sheet of colored paper about the size of a modern greeting card, were usually sent anonymously. Postmasters sometimes confiscated the cards, deeming them unfit for mailing.
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