Monthly Archives: January 2021

As for many traditions, this one began a long time ago and probably not how you would expect: Saint Valentine was a Martyr of early Christianity. One legend tells the story of Valentine as a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for soldiers, Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, deified Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

One of the most popular chocolates for Saint Valentine’s Day are the “Baci” - “kisses” in Italian - Perugina. These small chocolates filled with gianduia cream and decorated with an entire hazelnut are both delicious and romantic as each of them contains a small note with a different quote or aphorism about love.

Baci’s story is quite adventurous: they were invented by Luisa Spagnoli who named them “Cazzotti” - punches in Italian - for their peculiar shape. Giovanni Buitoni, who was in love with Luisa, immediately suggested changing the name to Baci, imagining that young men would prefer to go to the patisserie and ask “Mi dai un Bacio?” - “Will you give me a kiss?” - instead of “Will you give me a punch?”.