From at least the time of the Aztecs, chocolate has been seen as an aphrodisiac. So we assume that it has been connected to Valentines day for many centuries. However, that isn’t the case. The roots of Valentine’s Day are ancient but still quite unclear. It’s possible it originated in the pagan Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. Then morphed into a much tamer Christian feast day in A.D. 496, when Pope Gelasius I commemorated a martyred saint, Valentine. Or saints. In the third century, the Roman emperor Claudius II executed two men named Valentine on Feb. 14th, albeit in different years. It’s all rather confusing.
By the mid-19th century, Feb. 14 had become the day in Britain (and the U.S.) on which people expressed their affection by exchanging lavish cards decorated with lace, ribbons and plump, bow-and-arrow-wielding Cupids.
Chocolate has been around for centuries, but not in the tasty bars and tantalizing truffles you’re used to. For much of its early history, chocolate was used as a bitter elixir, often ground up with chili pepper or cinnamon by the Ancient Aztecs and Mayans to make it more palatable . The Aztecs are often credited with making the connection between chocolate and love, or at least lust, when 16th-century ruler Montezuma noticed that his ability to “please the ladies” was enhanced after drinking cocoa. Rumor has it that he drank three gallons of the chocolate-y drink a day to increase his libido. Claims like that make chocolate the perfect V-Day gift.
Food of the Gods
The scientific name of the cocoa tree is Theobroma cocoa in Greek: literally translated as ‘Food of the Gods’. What better way to spoil someone than offering them a treat good enough for Gods? Modern day gifts include chocolate roses, chocolate gift baskets and even boxes of chocolates.
Chocolate offers powers of love
The Aztecs created a beverage named ‘Xocolatl’, containing cocoa, honey and vanilla, which was believed to give special powers and arouse passion. The Aztec king would drink this potion before entering his harem, leading Spanish explorers to conclude that this ‘chocolate’ must indeed give special powers of love.
Chocolate to enhance your mood
Historical anecdotes are now supported by scientific evidence. Chocolate – ‘the love drug’ – contains phenylethylalanine. This releases endorphins in your brain, resulting in the same happy feeling you experience when in love.
The tradition of carving pumpkins, or jack-o-lanterns, began when early Irishmen immigrated to the U.S. According to Irish folklore, Jack was a blacksmith who had tricked the devil on several occasions. When he died, he was denied entry to both heaven and hell with the devil sentencing him to roam the Earth for eternity. In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul. When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S., they discovered that pumpkins were more readily available and made better jack-o’-lanterns than turnips.
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We totally understand that there an endless supply of gifts to send and receive in todays world. Even better, you can shop in the comfort of your own home…in your PJ’s no less! Treat friends, family and customers to the absolute perfect gift! Custom gift baskets make the perfect gift. You can pick and choose all of their favorite things. Do they love dogs? Coffee? Twinkies? Find the best gift baskets delivered right to their door. Whether it’s for birthdays, thank you, corporate holiday gifts or just because. (more…)
There are SO many reasons holiday gifting (or anytime of year for that matter) is so important. This year send something memorable and personal, that your customers will remember for years to come. Often times, people send corporate swag thinking their clients will love their mug and pen as much as they do. NOT. They’ll add it to the thousands of pens and mugs they get from everyone else and it will get lost. Why not put a little extra effort and thought into the holiday present and really get the WOW you were hoping for. So, just how do you select the perfect corporate holiday gift? Read on…
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Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days, according to History.com. It begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Here’s everything you need to know about the holiday:
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