The Story Behind Your Valentine's Chocolates

Valentine's Day is associated with love, naturally. Of the millions who commemorate the popular vacation for enthusiasts each year, how numerous in fact understand the rich history behind it?

There are a number of contending theories on the origins of Valentine's Day. Some state its starts can be discovered in the Middle Ages, when lots of thought that birds mated for life on Feb. 14. To memorialize the spirit of friendship, individuals would send out love letters on that day.

The National Confectioners Association approximates that more than 36 million sweet hearts will certainly be offered this year alone, most of them from Russell Stover, the leading manufacturer of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate in the United States. Russell Stover likewise deals with the health aware with assortments that are low and sugar-free in carbs.

Others state we owe our event to the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia, a pagan fertility celebration that was held in mid-February. On this day, ladies composed love notes that were put in an urn and arbitrarily drawn by guys, who would then pursue the note-writers and assert them as buddies for the next year.

Early Christians chosen to associate the vacation with the saint of charming causes, Saint Valentine. There is some debate relating to Saint Valentine: The Catholic Church acknowledges at least 3 saints called Valentine or Valentinus.

Now, more than $1 billion is invested yearly on Valentine's Day sweet.

Some state the custom of sending out Valentine greetings began in 1415 with a Frenchman called Charles, Duke of Orleans. Put behind bars in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt, the duke apparently passed time by composing charming verses for his spouse. By the 16th century, sending out composed expressions of love on Valentine's Day had actually ended up being typical.

By the start of the 20th century, the providing of Valentines was accompanied with presents of chocolates and flowers. The red rose and heart-shaped box of chocolates ended up being associated with Valentine's Day.

The most popular prospect is a 3rd century priest. Legend states he carried out secret marital relationships versus the orders of Emperor Claudius II, who prohibited boys from weding since he thought that single guys were most likely to sign up with the military.

As the story goes, Valentine was sent to prison for his misdeeds. He then fell for his jailer's little girl and sent her a note signed "From Your Valentine" prior to he was carried out in A.D. 270. A little more than 200 years later on, Pope Gelasius formally acknowledged Feb. 14 in honor of Valentine, the tutelary saint of enthusiasts.