Why Chocolate Became One Valentine Icon

Valentine’s Day is many things to different people- a chance to start new relationships, rekindle old ones, or remind that special someone how wonderful they really are. Others feel it is just another “Hallmark” holiday where they are expected to do something for unknown reasons. Regardless of your hopes, expectations, or reservations about Valentine’s Day, chocolate has long been a favorite gift for lovers.

Since the days of the Aztecs chocolate has been used as a gift. Today a box of luxurious quality chocolate says a thousand “thank you’s”, “good luck”, or “I love you”. Chocolate can be given as a way of saying “congratulations”, “I am sorry” or “get well soon”. On Valentine's Day Valentine chocolate as a sign that says “I LOVE YOU!” Chocolate is more than food, it not only fills your belly but also makes you feel soooo good. Elaine Sherman wrote “Chocolate is heavenly, mellow, sensual, deep, dark, sumptuous, gratifying, potent, dense, creamy, seductive, suggestive, rich, excessive, silky, smooth, luxurious, celestial. Chocolate is downfall, happiness, pleasure, love, ecstasy, fantasy … chocolate makes us wicked, guilty, sinful, healthy, chic, happy.” What more could you want to say to your lover on Valentines Day? Even the scientific name for the tree from which chocolate is derived, Theobroma cacao, translated from Greek, means “food of the gods”.

Why does chocolate evoke so many feelings and emotions for us? Chocolate has long been associated with passion, romance and love. This association may go all the way back to the Aztecs. They believed chocolate was a source of spiritual wisdom, incredible energy and elevated sexual power. Chocolate was widely used as a nuptial aid and was widely served at wedding ceremonies. The Aztecs did not know chocolate as we do today; they consumed the cocoa as a drink. Reports indicate that the Emperor Montezuma consumed large quantities of the drink every day and always fortified himself with a cup before entertaining his harem. The explorer Cortes reported to Carlos I of Spain that chocolate is “… the divine drink which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink enables a man to walk for a whole day without food.” From the earliest times, chocolate was considered a substance of power and a source of vitality.

Chocolate has been a subject of study since the first shipment from Veracruz arrived in Spain in 1585. But modern science has made some interesting findings that may help explain our lust for quality chocolate. Chocolate contains organic substances known as alkaloids. The most important of these substances is theobromine, which works as a stimulant to the kidneys. Stimulants in chocolate also affect the central nervous system, with effects similar to caffeine, which is also present in chocolate. A chocolate bar may contain as much as 200 mg of theobromine but only about 25 mg of caffeine. Another important substance found in chocolate is phenylethylamine, which is part of a group of chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins have an effect similar to amphetamine and are found naturally in the human body. When endorphins are released into the bloodstream, the mood is lifted and feelings of positive energy are reached. The sensation known as “runners high” is caused by endorphins released during exercise. Phenylethylamine levels in the brain have also been linked to “falling in love”. One more chemical found in chocolate is seratonin. Seratonin is known for its calming properties. The presence of these chemicals may explain the multitude of feelings chocolate evokes.

Debra Waterhouse, author of Why Women Need Chocolate, conducted a survey and found: 97% of women reported cravings, 68% of which are for chocolate, 50% would choose chocolate over sex, and 22% were more likely than men to choose chocolate as a mood elevator. These findings could easily be interpreted as a result of how chocolate makes us feel. I don’t know why more women choose chocolate than men, for I am a man and I love chocolate.

Critics would say that the benefits of eating chocolate are small when compared to the sugar and fat contained in a chocolate bar. The best chocolate, dark chocolate with high cacao butter content has no added fat, as well as a high percentage of cacao solids and correspondingly less sugar. Although chocolate will never be considered a health food based on its nutritional value, it is still good for you! Good for your heart and soul-anything that helps relieve stress and makes you feel so good must be.

Receiving a nicely wrapped box of chocolates causes a sense of anticipation. The pleasure of unwrapping the box, the sensual smell, lifting the soft seductive papers, the look of the smooth dark chocolates. When it finally passes your lips and starts to instantly melt filling your mouth with exquisite pleasure. The taste and smell flood your senses with overwhelming ecstasy. Eating it slowly, taking time to enjoy and savor every bit. What better way to start off an evening of love?

chocolate can make someone feel comfortable and happy and full of love when savor slowly because chocolate contains endorphins that make people feel relaxed and comfortable so many chocolate valentine enjoy on Valentine.

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Why Do People Celebrate Valentine's Day and What Are the Valentine Gift Set Ideas in 2010?

Every February across the country, chocolate baskets, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? There are also a few legends about St. Valentine. One of the legends mentioned that this is the day when Valentine died in his jail confinement and before he died, he had wrote a letter to a girl whom he loved very much. His letter was signed by him with the last wordings, "From Your Valentine". This expression has been still widely used until today. You can take these wordings to add on your gift cards. Who knows that it may deeply touch your valentine's heart after you relate the valentine history behind and the reason of putting such wordings in your gift card.

Finding valentine gift is one thing but most importantly, it is the meaningful act or gesture that one wants to show how important his or her valentine is. Apart from over one billions of Valentine's Day Card sent over in US alone, the most popular gift sets for lovers will be still beauty gift sets, followed by gourmet gift sets for parents and friends as well as chocolates for kids. Under the beauty category, the most popular gift will be still the traditional perfume gift set for men and women.

Gourmet gift come in the form of baskets will be the next best ideas for your parents and friends. None will reject the temptation of good food and titbits packed inside the gourmet baskets. Chocolates are not only meant for exchange between loved ones but also to the younger kids and childrens. You will be surprised that National Confectionary Association had a recent survey to comment that fifty two percents of American adults said that Chocolate is their most favorite favors. Nearly sixty five percent of chocolate eaters will prefer milk chocolates and older children at the age of nine to eleven years old will like chocolate more than their younger peers.

With the intended gift idea in mind, one can easily shop on-line for their desired gift and this can certainly saves more as compared to retail shopping. The saving in cost for gifts can then be used for a decent valentine meal to celebrate the romantic moment together. Some may have budget constraints during this tough economic period and therefore it limits their budget for selection of valentine gift sets. By doing on-line shopping, one can certainly save cost or to spend the same amount for a better quality gift.

To ensure you choose the right choices of gifts, you can shop those online-stores with many users' reviews about the products. Third party reviews can add a lot more of credibility about the product and therefore it increase the consumer confidence for that product. It is likely that you cannot go wrong if many people are happy with the products.

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15 Days of Chinese New Year

The fifteen days of the Chinese New Year all have a special purpose. On the first day most people don't eat meat, as they believe this will bring them a long and happy life. This 1st day is for welcoming all the gods of both heaven and earth. The 2nd day is believed to be the birthday of all dogs, so the dogs get extra food and kindness to celebrate. Ancestors are also prayed to on the 2nd day.

On the 3rd and 4th day, sons-in-law are expected to pay special respect to their parents-in-law, while on the 5th day - called Po Woo - all must stay home to welcome the god of wealth. Visiting friends on Po Woo will bring bad luck.

On the 6th to 10th days it is important to visit friends and family and also to go to the temples to pray for health and wealth. The 7th day is believed to be the birthday of all human beings. Noodles are eaten and farmers must display all their produce, making drinks out of various fruit and vegetables.

It's family reunion time on the 8th day for the Fujian people, with prayers to their god at midnight, while the 9th day is for offerings to the Jade Emperor. The 10th to 12th days are for inviting the family and friends to dinner, but on the 13th day, only simple meals of rice and greens should be eaten to cleanse the system of all those rich foods. The 14th day is to prepare for the Festival of Lanterns that is held on the 15th night.

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