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Valentine's Day
Just in time for 14 February, we have come up with a Valentine's Day recipe for you: golden-brown fried Love Rolls made with our popular IBIS brioche and a delicious strawberry cream cheese filling. Surprise your partner with a homemade dessert instead of the usual bouquet of flowers or the obligatory box of chocolates. You'll see, it's sure to go down well and our Love Rolls are quick and easy to make.
Where does the Valentine's Day custom actually come from?
Many people think that Valentine's Day is an advertising idea by florists or confectionery manufacturers to generate particularly high sales on this day. However, the custom dates back to the 3rd century and Valentine's Day was originally a day of remembrance for Bishop Valentine of Terni, around whom many myths and legends were entwined:
As a priest and enthusiastic gardener, he is said to have given flowers from his garden to lovers. He also gave plants as gifts to bridal couples or soldiers whom he married (without permission). Valentine of Terni is also said to have been known as a miracle healer. This is said to have won many people over to the Christian faith, which, however, landed him in prison during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. This is how Valentine's Day came into being in its original sense.
It is certain that Valentine died as a martyr. He is said to have been executed on 14 February 269, and 200 years after his death the church established this 14 February as a day of remembrance for Valentine of Terni.
However, the tradition of celebrating romantic love on this day only developed in the 14th century. In Germany, Valentine's Day became popular (again) after the Second World War.
Valentine's Day in other countries
US soldiers stationed in Germany brought the Valentine's Day custom with them from America and since then couples have been giving each other gifts on 14 February. Above all, flowers (most often red roses) are given to show their affection for each other. But pretty Valentine's Day cards and sweets, such as chocolates, are also very popular with German lovers!
Italian couples, on the other hand, meet at bridges on Valentine's Day and attach so-called love locks to the railings. The names and sometimes also the date of meeting are engraved on the lock. Once the lock is in place, the couple throws the key into the water.
In England, poems have traditionally been sent on Valentine's Day since the 15th century. Originally, however, couples found each other by chance, being assigned to each other by drawing lots the night before. It was not until the 19th century that the custom of sending each other decorated cards with little poems developed. This is still the way it is done in England today.
In Japan, the traditional gift is dark chocolate, in Sweden it is wine gum hearts and in Denmark it is bouquets of snowdrops. So you see, couples everywhere give each other a small (or even larger) token of love.
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