Who will be your Valentine?

From the Greek tradition of Cupid to the daring exploits of Medieval saints, Valentine’s Day traditions have morphed through the centuries to capture the heart of a culture. All in all, the day is about love. And there are so many ways that we can express it.

For us, February 14th has been cornered into another day of consumerism. We have all had the candy hearts with the phrases, we have all wondered who is going to give us a flower during homeroom class, and we have all been expectant for that sweet treat to appear from that person we adore. Yet, we have been sucked into cultural norms. We have all had our hearts dashed to pieces when our Valentine’s Day box wasn’t as full as the kid sitting next to us.

Yet, what if we could break out of cultural traditions and come back to the heart of the matter. A day for feasting, for fun, and for love. A day to shower others with appreciation and affection. Let’s toss the mass-produced chocolate box and give those we love something better, richer.

The earliest known Valentine card was sent from Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. These brief romantic lines have stayed with us as we consider the question: “Who will be our Valentine?” Then in just a few hundred years, lavish Valentine Day parties were thrown in royal courts, Shakespeare included it in Hamlet, and it became the epitome of expressing romantic love in poetry. Valentine’s Day brought color and joi de vivre.

Although not a traditional holiday worldwide, many cultures have embraced it. Sharing sweets, exchanging letters, and generally expressing affection to those closest to them. It is a day for appreciation, friendship, and romance.

To our friends and our soul mates, lets raise up a glass of wine and a delicious piece of chocolate and cheers to the most delicious day of the year. Gather around and exchange a gift that is too good not to share. For a day that is full of assorted chocolate boxes, why not show your Valentine how special they really are with Ilan’s Raw Chocolate?