It ’s impossible to pilot nigh any kind of retail store in February without pick up display of pink and red-faced chocolate boxes around every corner . Chocolate has become a standard Valentine ’s Day talent , right up there with flowers and jewelry , but the treat did n’t get its quixotic reputation overnight . It make century of myths , merchandising , and traditions to drop a line chocolate into Valentine ’s Dayhistory .
The first people to connect love and chocolate were theMayans . They pop brewing boozing made from chocolate beans around500 BCE — hundred before the first Feast of St. Valentine . This early hot chocolate was an significant part of Mayan wedding rituals . The St. Bridget and groom would exchange sip of the beverage during the ceremony , foreshadowing deep brown ’s succeeding position as a universal facial expression of love .
TheAztecshad a less wholesome prospect of the constituent . According to fable , the emperor Montezuma II overeat huge quantities of drinking chocolate attic to fire his romantic affairs . Chocolate does contain small amounts of tryptophane and phenylethylamine , two chemicals affiliate with feeling love and desire , but scientist say there is n’t enough of either substance to make burnt umber a strongaphrodisiac .
storey of chocolate ’s effects in the chamber persisted withal , which might explain why candy - sellers embraced the sweet treats when Valentine ’s Day became popular . Cadburydebuted the first heart - shaped boxwood of chocolates in 1861 , and it was an instant success . The package was embellished with cupids and roses to appeal to customers shopping for Valentine ’s Day gifts . And once the box was empty , it could be used tostore keepsakeslike love letter and locks of hair .
Cadbury did n’t patent the nerve - determine chocolate box , so the rest of the candy industriousness started manufacturing like packaging of their own . It was n’t long before chocolates became synonymous with the newly - commercialized vacation .
Valentine ’s Day chocolates are convert around the globe , but they ’re impound to interesting custom in some rural area . Thanks to a successful marketing campaign , women in Japan have to give " certificate of indebtedness chocolates " to all the gentleman’s gentleman they know on February 14 . Here are more internationalValentine ’s Day customs .
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