Valentine's Day Symbols Part 2
By: Tippy & Alfred
Special Terms Such as Sweetheart, Sugar Pie, Honey, etcetera
When people are in love they just seem to automatically
develop this type of dialogue. We often refer to someone we
care about as sweetheart or honey. But why? Researchers have
found that when we fall in love, a chemical called phenyl
ethylamine or phenylalanine is produced. This drug causes
the "crazy" love high that is so celebrated in song and
verse. When phenyl ethylamine or phenylalanine is flowing
through our bodies we feel and often act as if we were on
amphetamines. We can stay up all night and work all day the
next day. A pheromone called androstenol is also released,
which heightens our sexual attractions. Thus, we also end up
producing what is called a sweet taste in our mouths and we
start spouting off phrases like "luscious" and "sweet" and
"honey" and other things that we like such as "muffin" or
"cupcake" or "pudding."
Apples
Historically, apples have often been tokens of love and
fertility. Norse mythology says that the gods ate apples to
stay young. Mid-Eastern women drank and washed with the
juice of apples for fertility. Apples have also been used
for divining and fortune-telling since ancient times. So the
phrase, "Mom, Country and Apple Pie" all refer to types of
love....maternal, patriotic and sexual.
But, apples are NOT really the original aphrodisiac at all.
What is?
The Spanish believed the tomato to really be the true
romance-inducing fruit. They brought the seeds up to North
America from South America, to which tomatoes are native. So
"love apples" are not really apples at all, but tomatoes.
And this is how we get the phrase, "She's a really hot
tomato!"
Chocolate
Believe it or not, chocolate contains the same chemical
called phenyl ethylamine or phenylaline that is produced in
our brains when we are falling in love, and it gives a
similar emotional high. Many psychologist believe chocolate
is an instant antidepressant and "love booster." For many
people both chocolate and love can be addictive. So, the
idea of giving chocolate to someone we care about is an
attempt to stir up the same emotions in them (only
artificially if they don't really feel the same way
emotionally). But, as with all drugs, the phenyl ethylamine
will wear off if it wasn't produced by real emotions. Some
also say that "sweets for my sweet" is a pun for giving any
candy to someone you care about.
Love Knots
The Love Knot has no beginning and no end and consists of
graceful loops, often forming hearts, in which messages of
love are either attached and knotted in or written on the
ribbon or rope and read by turning the knot around and
around. And, if you couldn't make a real love knot, many
Valentines included a design of one. A young man often hung
this love knot on his true love's doorknob, perhaps slipping
a letter underneath. Some feel this began with sailors since
doing knots, netting or macramé were their skill. Others say
it is a Celtic custom and design, while still others say it
is Scandinavian.
Paper Hands
By the 19th Century the paper hand became another symbol of
love.
It was considered a symbol of courtship because of the
custom of a man "asking for a lady's hand" in marriage. And
eventually tiny paper gloves became a valentine card symbol
as well....evolving into gloves (esp. silk) becoming a
popular gift to for a man to give his sweetheart. Eventually
the custom developed until, in certain social circles, a
woman expected a pair of good gloves as a gift from a man
who was courting her. Sometimes (I guess it depended on how
well you knew the woman?) a man would also give shoestrings,
silk stockings, garters and jewelry to his sweetheart for
Valentine's Day.
Back To:
All About The Holidays
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