Don’t forget Valentine’s Day on Thursday February 14th. It’s the day we celebrate our loved ones and show our appreciation for their love and companionship. But behind the flowers and chocolates do you really know where Valentine’s Day traditions started?
The first association between Valentine’s Day and romance was in a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of “The Canterbury Tales.” The poem was written to commemorate the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. Before that Valentines Day, or days, as there were 12, honored early Christian Martyrs named Valentine. A line in Chaucer’s poem, written in 1382, roughly translated says this:
“For this was on St Valentine’s Day / When every bird comes to choose his mate”
February 14th is an unlikely time for birds to choose mates and therefore likely that Chaucer was referring to May 2nd; the saint’s day for Valentine of Genoa, and also the date that the marriage agreements were signed for the royal couple in 1381. Readers incorrectly assumed he was referring to February 14th, the saints’ day for at least 3 other martyred saints. And so the link was formed and the traditions of lavishing loved ones with handwritten notes and poems began.
Though the tradition began with hand written notes or poems, since the 19th century the notes of choice have been mass produced. In fact Valentine’s Day is second only to Christmas as the largest card sending holiday of the year.
Another popular Valentine’s Day gift is chocolate. Chocolate has become the most popular flavour in the world and it’s not just it’s sweetness we love. There are many chemicals in chocolate that cause mood-elevating effects and are linked to increased serotonin levels, the brain’s feel-good drug. Claims have even been made that chocolate can lower your blood pressure. All in moderation, of course! And please remember this Valentine’s Day that even though we love our pets, chocolate contains a chemical that is toxic to some animals.
In honor of Valentine’s Day (and chocolate itself!) why not enjoy a Valentine’s inspired trifle for dessert?
