An Ancient Celebration
There are various origins of Christmas, some religious and some are not, but what they all have in common is celebration. Centuries before the birth of Christ, early Europeans would celebrate the winter solstice, the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year, and the turning point for the coldest, darkest season. After the winter solstice, days begin to grow longer as the sun climbs higher in the sky and for an agricultural society, it was a definite call for celebration. The Scandinavian people would celebrate “Yule” from the winter solstice into January. In appreciation of the return of the sun, men would bring home large logs to burn. As the fire burnt, which would last almost two weeks, the people would indulge in large feasts and celebrate the fertilization of crops and steerage in the coming year. In most areas of Europe, December was the perfect time to celebrate because at that time most cattle were harvested. Furthermore, wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking. Mostly, it was the only time of the year when there was an abundance of fresh meat, crops and spirits. Similarly, the Romans would spend December celebrating Saturn, the god of agriculture. This was also a time of feasts, fulfillment and rejoice.
The Creation of Chocolate
The cocoa bean is the seed of the cacao tree which in Latin means “food of the gods.” These trees are generally found in Central and South America. Chocolate as we all know it today is derived from the cocoa bean and is usually consumed as a solid. The Aztecs, however, first used the cocoa bean to mix with water to create a frothy, bitter hot chocolate. Cocoa pods became very valuable and to the Mayas, symbolized life and fertility. Cacao seeds were even used as money for trading goods which lead to its distribution outside Central and South America. As the cocoa bean was still used in a bitter beverage, many spices were added to give the mixture flavor. One of those spices was sugar. By mixing cocoa beans and sugar together, it was no longer a bitter flavor but very sweet and creamy. Thus, chocolate was born.
Christmas Chocolates Emerge
As chocolate became more and more valuable, it was a common gift to European royalty as travelers returned home from foreign countries. These delights were saved for special occasions and Christmas being a time of intense celebration and feasting, it's no wonder that such an indulging treat as chocolate would make its way to the center of the party. Christmas chocolates became a solid tradition in more developed countries as the ultimate treat. During the Industrial Revolution chocolate became more available to the public and were in especially high demand during Christmas time. Almost every culture has its own form of celebrating the season while incorporating chocolate. Now, Christmas chocolates are a common gift and continue to be a demonstrated symbol of luxury and abundance.
Kimberly W. To learn more about CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE go to: www.joshearlycandies.com
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