Norfolk’s enigmatic Jack Valentine
A curious Norfolk legend stretching back at least two centuries, Jack Valentine is famed for his Valentine’s Eve appearances, enchanting locals with goodies, gifts, and mischievous games even to this day…
An intriguing figure known by many names, including Jack, Mr. Valentine and even Father or Mother Valentine, has long been associated with the celebration of our treasured romantic holiday. The precise origin of this elusive local legend remains shrouded in mystery, however, we do know that this quirky character has seldom ventured beyond Norfolk.
“I like to think it’s because we are collectively imaginative and magical!” says Stacia Briggs, co-founder of the Norfolk Folklore Society and an enthusiast of local mythology. “Whatever the reason, the Jack Valentine ritual and the lore that surrounds him has become a unique part of our history. I’m always surprised when Norfolk-born people haven’t heard about Jack!”
Mr. Valentine was once able to give Santa Claus a run for his money, with as much time and effort spent preparing for the February festival as for Christmas Day, and his remarkable tradition has seen a revival in recent years. In 2000, one creative Cupid famously treated the residents of Muriel Road in Norwich to a sweet Valentine’s Day surprise, with romantic iced biscuits left by their doors, gates and cars.
However, it’s not just edible treats that appear on doorsteps each Valentine’s Eve. Working silently and unseen, cunning Jack has been known for delivering various gifts over the years. During the Victorian era, when visits from Jack Valentine were at their peak, it was not uncommon to receive offerings such as shawls, vases, intricate jewellery boxes and trinkets alongside handcrafted cards. Deliveries were executed through a knock-and-run tactic or attached to a piece of string and playfully twitched out of the recipient’s reach.
“When my mother was a child, she would be enticed outside following a knock on the door and would eagerly grasp for a beautifully wrapped present, only for it to be whisked away invisibly using a fishing line,” says Stacia. “She and her siblings would go into the garden to search for the gifts but return empty-handed, only to find them waiting on the floor inside. My nanna recreated this for me when I was young, and now my children receive a visit from Jack, as do my husband’s grandchildren.”
As this enchanting custom continues to be passed down through generations, it’s fascinating to observe how Jack Valentine rituals have evolved over time. “In the 1800s, children would set out before dawn to sing rhymes in exchange for sweets, cakes and pennies, similar to modern trick-or-treating,” Stacia explains. “Interestingly, accounts show that the character of Jack seemed to vary across Norfolk.”
In Ingoldisthorpe, Jack Valentine transformed into Mother Valentine, with local children singing: ‘Good Mother Valentine, God bless the baker! Who’ll be the giver? I’ll be the taker. The roads are very dirty, my boots are very clean, and I’ve got a pocket, to put a penny in.’
In Tuttingham near Aylsham, children would go ‘Valentining’, knocking on doors and shouting: ‘Good morning, Father Valentine, trim your hair as I do mine. Two to the fore and two behind, good morning, Father Valentine.’
Above: Jack Valentine was particularly popular during the Victorian era, leading to an increase in advertisements in newspapers such as ‘The Norwich Argus’ from local retailers (above, © Museum of Norwich). Illustrations by Matt Willis from Shuck Zine available at etsy.com/uk/shop/shuckzine).
Not all gifts and customs were favourable, however. If Jack’s unpleasant counterpart, Snatch Valentine paid a visit, you might be left with a disappointing piece of coal, or even nothing at all.
“Possessing all the charm of a Roald Dahl villain rather than a lovestruck gift-giver, Snatch is the darker variation of Jack,” says Stacia. “Instead of opening the door and finding a delightful parcel, the recipient would discover their presents disappearing the moment they reached to pick them up. Attached to a piece of string, the presents would leap about, evading the grasp of a desperate child. If the youngster managed to grab the gift, they’d find it was an empty parcel or a succession of empty boxes.”
For more mature recipients or those unlucky in love, an unwelcome Snatch Valentine visit could be accompanied by a cruel note or a distasteful card known as a ‘Vinegar Valentine’. Cynical, sarcastic and often misogynistic, these mean-spirited favours were often complete with an unflattering caricature or an insulting poem and became particularly prominent during the Victorian era.
Thankfully it is Jack Valentine who prevails most of the time; but there’s always a chance sneaky Snatch may appear this February.
To find out more about the tale of Jack Valentine, visit norfolkfolkloresociety.co.uk or tune in to https://audioboom.com/channels/4948395-norfolk-folklore-society to delve deeper into the county’s captivating folklore.
Above: A selection of Victorian cards and gifts curated by Hannah Henderson can be viewed at the museum (opposite page, © Museum of Norwich).