Valentine's Day chocolates, especially in decorated boxes, are a significant part of the holiday's commercial culture, primarily attributed to Richard Cadbury's marketing strategy in the late 1800s. This practice was influenced more by the dynamics of European colonization and the Industrial Revolution than purely romantic sentiment. Cadbury's heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates became widely recognized symbols of love, though his original designs were never patented, allowing competitors to enter the market with similar products, changing the way Valentine's Day is celebrated globally.
While the holiday did originate as a day to honor the Roman saint, St. Valentine, the chocolate boxes that line store shelves are more a product of colonization and industrialization than dreamy admiration.
Richard Cadbury had the idea to use the excess cocoa butter to market chocolates specifically for Valentine's Day, leading to the iconic heart-shaped boxes that became synonymous with the holiday.
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