Why Is Valentine's Day Always Synonymous With Chocolate?

Illustration (Budgeron Bach/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Hearts, cupids, flowers, and chocolates have always been symbols of Valentine's Day, which falls on February 14. The history of this Valentine's Day was born since Roman times, but the tradition of giving sweet foods such as chocolate is a habit that is not as old as Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day actually begins with two Roman saints who are both named Valentine, and both are not connected with a romantic story. However, legend says that St. Valentine was a priest who performed illegal marriages on the soldiers of Emperor Claudius. However, there is no evidence that this event ever happened.

The first writing to mention St. Valentine's Day as a day of celebration of love was written by Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, in 1382. In the 14th century, icons that symbolize love began to appear. Like knights who give flowers to their lovers and sing a love song. At this time sugar was still a valuable item in Europe, so there was no custom of exchanging gifts of confectionery or sweet treats.

In 1840, the idea of St. Valentine's Day is celebrated as a day of love in almost all English-speaking countries. Victorians loved this idea and celebrated it by giving each other gifts. Then, came Richard Cadbury who came from a family that owned a chocolate-making company. He was responsible for sales issues when his company was in a crucial position.

At that time, Cadbury had just updated their chocolate-making technique by extracting cocoa beans into cocoa butter. This technique produces chocolate products that are more acceptable to the British tongue. With the cocoa butter he created, Cadbury can make a variety of products that we know today as 'chocolate eating'.

On Valentine's Day, Richard saw an opportunity for his new product, and began selling it in beautiful boxes he had designed himself. He also decided to use an icon that is familiar with Valentine. Then, he pinned a picture of Cupid and a rose in the heart-shaped box that became the beautiful chocolate container.

Although Richard Cadbury did not patent this heart-shaped box, many believe he was the first to make a heart-shaped chocolate box. There are two goals that Cadbury wants to achieve through this box. The first, of course, is to attract attention so that consumers want to buy the chocolate. After the chocolate is eaten, this empty luxury box can be reused as a storage box for memorable items such as letters or jewelry. Since then, chocolate continues to be a symbol on Valentine's Day.

Although Valentine's Day celebrations have gone through several eras, this Victorian-era Cadbury box still exists and is a collectible item that has been passed down from generation to generation.