How many of you know the real story behind Valentine’s Day?
This somewhat international holiday wasn’t always about love, chocolate, strawberries and everything else that goes with Valentine’s Day.
According to the Wikipedia, “St. Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her. Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine’s Day, albeit on July 6th and July 30th, the former date in honor of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).
The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.”
Hmm, this is very interesting. There seems to be a pattern here… most of the holidays we celebrate start off as a Christian celebration to remember important people, but later became celebrations that have nothing to do with the true meaning of the holiday. Christmas and Easter are two examples of that… Santa Claus and Bunnies? Where did they come from?
Now that I know the real story behind Valentine’s Day… I plan to tell my kids the real story behind this holiday.
Of course, we will still celebrate this holiday with some yummy chocolate sweets! Plus, it is my Daddio’s birthday… but he usually requests a carrot cake, his all-time favorite.
I will make him my rustic sourdough carrot cake… along with a chocolate tart that I have been experimenting with. Will share that with you when its ready!
So… today I am sharing with you my top 10 favorite chocolate sweets. Hope you enjoy them!!
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