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February 14 marks St Valentine's Day, referred to as the "Day of Love" and dedicated to love, passion and romance. It is a popular celebration symbolized by the giving of cards and gifts to lovers and loved ones. St Valentine's Day was declared an official holiday in 1537 by King Henry VIII and is now observed in The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico and France. Here at L.A. Burdick Chocolate it is one of our favorite holidays, honoring this tradition with our uniquely flavored hand-created gourmet chocolates all presented in romantic packaging -- the most suitable "Gifts of Love".
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 Roman Tradition
The ancient roman festival of Lupercalia was held for over 1000 years on the Ides of February. It was dedicated to the god Lupercus. Converging in caves, the priests of Lupercus would sacrifice an animal in his honor and run through the city with strips of hide dipped in the animal's blood, which they used to gently strike onlookers as an act of purification and to bring fertility. Later, the names of eligible young women were put into an earthen jar and young men would draw these names at random. The paired couples would be matched as lovers for the day and even into the coming year. |
Christian Tradition
This feastday of Saint Valentine was established in 496 ad by Pope Gelasius, as a way of incorporating and taming the popular Lupercian Festival into a Christian holiday. The day was named for Valentine, a martyred priest, who helped protect Christians under persecution from Emperor Claudius II. He was arrested on February 14, 270 ad, and eventually beheaded. Saint Valentine is best known for secretly marrying Christians in defiance of the royal edict against marriage, a ban established to increase discipline in the military leagues.
Victorian Tradition
One of the first valentines was sent in 1415 by the imprisoned Duke of Orleans to his wife, beginning the tradition of sending rhymed love letters on this day. During the Victorian era, commercial printing and a postal delivery system contributed to the growth of the practice. The symbols of cupid, doves, hearts, cherubs and roses were incorporated into elaborately designed, and often anonymously sent paper cards. They were the perfect medium for Victorian love poetry, a complex and encoded language used to safely convey strong emotions.
 Modern Tradition
Today, February 14 is a popular holiday shared by children and lovers alike. It has gone from a religious to a more secular celebration, filled with chocolate and candied hearts, romantic dinners and red roses. Children often have valentine swapping parties as part of their school day and teachers are the number one recipients of Valentine's Day cards in America. Many religious associations and the heavy romantic sentimentality of previous times has evolved into a holiday filled with tender lightheartedness. |
VALENTINE'S DAY CHOCOLATE GIFT SELECTION |
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