Valentine’s Day is an ideal day for a party, and if mother says “yes,” why, send out your invitations right away. Use heart-shaped cards, and seal the envelopes with tiny “heart” seals. Of course your preparations for the party will depend on how much money you have to spend, but here are some ideas that have been tried, and are a great deal of fun. When you are sure of the number of guests, buy heart-shaped boxes, large red cardboard hearts, gifts, and make small red bags, enough for each child to have one. Borrow mother’s scissors, a jar of paste, and hunt up any old magazines or catalogues that may be in the house. Place a gift in each “heart” box, wrap each box up neatly, and tie with scarlet ribbon. A few vases of scarlet carnations, and strings of hearts looped about, will give the room a very festive air. Hide the candy hearts around the room, where they will not be found too easily. If you wear a red sash and hair ribbons with your white dress, you will look like a real little Valentine girl, all ready to receive your guests.

The first “number on the program” may be a Heart Hunt, so give each child a red bag in which to collect the hearts which he finds. Next comes a heart auction, and mother can be auctioneer and sell at auction the heart-shaped boxes. The “customers” bid with candy hearts instead of money, and nobody can make more than one purchase.

Then St. Valentine’s candle (which is a red candle in a candlestick) may be lit, and placed on a table. Each child, in turn, must be blindfolded and stand ten paces away from the candle. He turns around three times, takes ten steps toward the candle, as he supposes, and then tries to blow it out. The one who is successful in this, will be very fortunate through the coming year.

Next distribute the pasteboard hearts, and let each guest write his or her name on them. Now pass to the right-hand neighbor, who must decorate the heart with pictures cut from catalogues or magazines. For instance, Dorothy’s heart will be ornamented with pictures of dogs, birds, hair ribbons and candy, for these are Dorothy’s favorites. Jack’s heart will be decorated with pictures of automobiles, motor boats, guns, and fishing tackle. Each heart is supposed to show just what the owner is fond of.

Then supper can be served, and since it is Valentine’s Day a “hearty” supper will be just the thing.

Red carnations and red-shaded candles make a pretty decoration, or if mother is willing to take more trouble, a Cupid may occupy the place of honor in the center of the table. From his bow, narrow red ribbons extend to silver cardboard arrows, which are at each place, and serve as “place cards.” “Coup jacques,” for the first course, sound interesting and are as nice as they sound. Fill sherbet glasses half full of small pieces of pineapple, orange and banana, then cover with cherry ice, smoothing the top over carefully. Oysters in heart-shaped pattie shells, heart-shaped sandwiches, heart cakes, and bonbons, and ice cream in the form of hearts, will make a very nice Valentine supper, and there should be a dainty Valentine souvenir at each plate.

When your guests say “good-bye,” they’ll tell you that they have had a lovely time. See if they don’t!