From the Archives: Advice for Valentine’s parties from 1923

Red paper hearts, ribbons and Kewpie dolls were just the thing for Valentine’s Day entertaining 100 years ago.

From the Evening Tribune, Feb. 10, 1923:

Many New Things Suggested For Entertaining at Parties on Valentine Day, Wednesday

Next Wednesday, Feb. 14, is St. Valentine’s day. Each year there is much sentiment and romance expressed by the senders of red hearts and cupid with his bow and arrow.

Don’t you remember the Valentine box at school and ow eagerly we waited for that hour when they would be distributed. There are many who look forward to this day just as eagerly as we did then, if they will but admit it.

For those of you who are having parties, the first things to be taken into consideration are the decorations, and this year you will find some of them are a little out of the ordinary and even more daring. For instance, instead of always having red, why not venture away from it and combine old rose or even light pink with red.

One of the prettiest tables suggested this year is one having a fringe of red paper cut in the shape of hearts around the edge of the table. From the center light is suspended three large hearts pasted together in triangle fashion and then from this extending to each place are the smaller hearts tied to red ribbons. The hearts are used as place cards and the name is written on in white ink. All around the room have hearts suspended on red ribbons.

Another pretty decoration is a swing made and covered in the red paper or ribbon and there seat a Kewpie or doll dressed as Cupid. From the doll radiated ribbons to which attach the place cards or favors. The heart-shaped containers for nuts or candies are always pretty, or the containers made like roses and just peeking over the top have a little Kewpie, or a heart attached to a spiral wire. Many have valentines at each place, and if you are clever you can make your own, writing a verse that suits the person.

If you do not have the valentines for place cards, then be sure to have a valentine post office, for this is good fun and always affords a chance for the enamored swain to make a favorable impression upon the lade he loves. The hostess may supply the valentines, or ask the guest to bring several to be distributed later.

We all have played the game of Peanut Stab—why not have a Heart Stab—the players sit around a table, in the center of which is a heap of tiny paper or cardboard hearts. The player receives a hatpin and jabs into the pile of hearts—each one taking his turn separately. All the shapes taken upon the pin belong to him. A score is kept, the “jabbing” continuing until all the hearts are taken.

Place two red paper hearts which have been cut into several irregular pieces into an envelope and distribute to each gentleman guest, who selects a woman for a partner, and at a signal they begin putting the pieces together to form the heart. the couple first getting the pieces together in perfect order, forming two hearts, wins the contest, and each receives a prize.

We have heard of “two hearts that beat as one,” and this can be put into a game. Fasten a large white handkerchief on the wall or door. Paste or sew a small read paper heart in the center of it. Let each person in turn be blindfolded and try to pin a heart of the corresponding size over the heart on the handkerchief. The one accomplishing the feat, or coming the nearest to it, receives a valentine or something appropriate.