While other places go all-out on decorations at Christmas and Halloween, one village called Lover pretty much owns Valentine’s Day.
Dubbed the world’s most romantic village, it has drawn visitors from across the UK to send Valentine’s Day cards with a special postmark.
Thousands of cards are sent from Lover every February to recipients across the world—with the romantically-stamped postmark reaching hearts on every continent, even Antarctica.
Traveling all the way from Surrey to the Wiltshire hamlet, Lindy Nock stayed in town just long enough to purchase a postcard, have it stamped, and mail it to a loved one in Denmark.
“I saw it on Instagram and I couldn’t make it last year,” said the 54-year-old, “so I thought I would come here and send a card to my pen pal friend in Denmark.
“The fact they celebrate Valentine’s day, being called Lover, is fantastic.”
Residents take the annual celebration very seriously, decorating their houses and businesses with red and pink hearts.
The annual postal rush used to be run from the village Post Office, but it got so big that, ten years ago, residents formed the Lover Community Trust and volunteers have helped send more than 10,000 love letters.
You don’t have to visit to get the postmark now. Anyone can send a card from Lover in the lead up to February 14th by ordering it online.
Since 2016, dozens of volunteers have processed the cards in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, and also run the Darling cafe to cater to all the annual visitors.
They even get orders from China, which have to use specially arranged Mandarin characters so printed addresses can be read.
All the money paid for cards and souvenirs goes back into supporting the community, and it has already helped fund a major renovation of the Old School building, which now serves as a community center.
Nick Gibbs, from the trust, called it the ‘world’s most romantic village’, but the store also features cards suitable for mailing to friends.
“We are trying to promote Valentine’s day as a way of sending a little love to everyone,” said the 78-year-old. “The card with the most significant journey this year was to Japan last week.”
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One of the volunteers, Debbie Harper, runs the Darling Cafe and is usually in the kitchen, so doesn’t get a chance to help with all the mailings.
“But, I bought a card for my husband and I got to put the stamp on. I love playing post office!”
One couple in their 70s, Janet and Bob Halliday, help decorate the village every year.
“It is going from strength to strength. When we first started it was just the cards. Now we’ve got jewelry, cards and linens that say, ‘Lots of love from Lover’, said Bob.
“It is a very gregarious village and it’s nice being involved.”
Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Lover Valentine Post, and locals have decided to make a tapestry that traces the roots of February 14th. The project will be influenced by the 14th Century writer Geoffrey Chaucer, who was largely credited with creating the association between Valentine’s Day and romantic love.
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At the moment they’re researching the storyline and deciding what depictions to design. Eventually, they’ll work to figure out how to fabricate it.
Note that while many will be sending ‘love from Lover’, they need to know how to pronounce the English village when speaking in the UK—because it actually rhymes with ‘Dover’.
To get a card or gift sent through Lover Valentine Post, visit their website: www.lover.org.uk
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