Flowers and Chocolates for that PERFECT St Valentines Day Gift! The first flowers were given as St. Valentine's Day gifts around the 17 th century when a princess of France gave a party in honor of St Valentine at which lady guest received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the man chosen as her valentine. The fate of flowers as a St. Valentine's Day gift was sealed.
The gift of Chocolates for St. Valentine's Day is deeply entrenched in St. Valentine's Day lore. Chocolates were first brought to Europe from America about 400 years ago and their popularity has increased throughout Europe ever since.
It is not surprising therefore that, today, for the more traditional amongst us, the most popular St.Valentine's Day gift is a combination of Flowers and Chocolates. Flowers speak the "language of love" and chocolates have long been associated with sensuality and indulgence. A devastating combination is formed by the presentation of Flowers and Chocolates as a St. Valentine's Day gift.
From the earliest times and particularly in the Victorian era, flowers were recognised as having their own language. Different Valentines Day flowers represented different messages and within that discipline, different colours could refine the message and make it even more succinct. This was very useful to our Victorian ancestors when flowers could say for them what dared not be spoken. For example, messages were conveyed and understood thus:
- Roses -love,
- Lily's - beauty,
- Asters - fidelity
- Azaleas - passion
- Baby's breath - innocence and purity of heart
- Bird of Paradise (these are often given from a woman to man) - faithfulness)
- Bluebells -humility, constancy and gratitude
- Daffodils - chivalry
- Ox-Eye Daisies (Marguerites) - patience
- Delphiniums -fun
- Freesias - trust
- Gardenias - refinement
- Hyacinths - sorry, please forgive me
- Orchids - beauty and love
Chocolate is one of the world's best-loved foods, also with its own language - indulgence ! The earliest record of chocolate was over fifteen hundred years ago in the Central American rain forests. In Europe, chocolates were first made in Spain and soon became popular throughout Europe.
Cacao, the main ingredient in chocolates, is claimed to have over 300 identifiable chemical compounds and is considered to be one of the most complex and pleasurably satisfying foods on the planet. The compounds claimed are
- arginine - a natural aphrodisiac
- anandamine - a euphoric substance
- tryptophan - an anti-depressant
- antioxidants - known to have rejuvenating and anti-ageing elements
- the mineral magnesium - helps to build strong bones
- magnesium - calming qualities
- sulphur - helps promote healthy skin, nails and hair
Don't torture yourself with the question of whether you should buy Flowers or Chocolates for your special someone this St. Valentine's Day. Combine these two powerfully strong pleasures of life - Flowers and Chocolates - as a St. Valentine's Day gift and your suit is almost guaranteed
