Chocolate holidays from around the world

A holiday without chocolate? We could never picture such a thing…

It seems like you just can’t enjoy a holiday without a good serving of chocolate. There’s something incredibly comforting in biting into your favourite chocolate bar as you spend some much-needed time with loved ones. It’s perhaps no surprise that chocolate holidays have become so popular. After all, if you can’t indulge during the holidays, then when can you? 

Holidays around the world take on different forms and styles. Whilst we may not share the same traditions as others around the world, we do share an undying, unconditional love for chocolate. We explore some of the different chocolate holidays around the world to see just how this sweet treat has embedded itself into so many different traditions and cultures.

Valentine’s Day

The link between chocolate and romance runs deeper than you might first think. Although the thought of chocolate makes our hearts flutter, the ties between the two dates all the way back to the ancient Mayan civilisation. The Mayans understood the magic of chocolate. That’s why they would serve it to the bride and groom at wedding ceremonies. 

However, the true potency of chocolate wasn’t ‘discovered’ until the 16th Century Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, consumed vast amounts of chocolate in efforts to increase his libido. Whilst we wouldn’t advise you to chomp on endless amounts of chocolate to ensure your Valentine’s Day goes out with a bang, we do think that chocolate remains a solid symbol of affection to give from you to them.

Valentine’s Day is now celebrated all around the world, with chocolate remaining one of the key components of this celebration. In Argentina a ‘week of sweetness’ takes place in July, where couples receive chocolates and other goodies. In South Korea, Valentine’s Day marks a time for women to put in the graft. Women give their male friends, family, loved ones and even colleagues chocolate on the 14th of February. However this chocolate holiday is slowly becoming more equal as retailers have begun targeting all genders.

Easter

Although Easter continues to be synonymous with a religious holiday within the UK, many now look upon the occasion as the chance to enjoy a chocolate holiday. And, if we look at Easter celebrations around the world, we can see that chocolate has also found its way into international Easter festivities.

Whilst us Brits like to leave out chocolate eggs and bunnies for the little ones to find, in France it’s common to find chocolate bells. According to legend, when the bells don’t ring from Good Friday till Easter Sunday it is because they are travelling to Rome to fetch some chocolate goodies. In Finland and Switzerland, Easter merges slightly with Halloween. Children in both countries don witches outfits in an attempt to persuade adults to give them chocolate.

Of course, not all Easter celebrations revolve around chocolate. Although some of us might associate this celebration with a chocolate holiday, in other countries Easter takes on a rather different form. If you want to know how Easter is celebrated around the world then read our blog to find out more. 

Halloween

Halloween is a relatively Western tradition. In Britain and America, Halloween marks a chocolate holiday where you can glutton yourself on bowls of sweets and treats. However, a tradition you might not be so familiar with is the Mexican Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

This tradition was born during the time of the Aztecs in which a summer celebration was held for one month to pay homage to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, this custom became merged with the Catholic All Saints Day, held on the 1st of November.

Now, Day of the Dead is a three day long celebration, held between October 31st and November 2nd. This celebration honours the dead, as the belief is that they return back to their homes on Halloween. Some families create an altar and lay flowers, photographs, food and drink to honor their deceased family memories. A Mexican mole (a traditional sauce or marinade), made with rich dark chocolate, may also be placed at the altar.

Hanukkah

This Jewish celebration marks the Festival of Lights, commemorating the liberation of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. For many, this holiday isn’t just about remembrance: it’s also about education. That’s why Hanukkah has also become synonymous with educating the next generation about Jewish values. Parents give children Hanukkah gelt (money) to encourage them to read the Torah. Over time, chocolatiers took this on board, creating foil-wrapped chocolate coins as edible treats. 

Christmas

You know Christmas is coming when you see shelves stocked with endless supplies of chocolate creations. In the UK we’d expect to find chocolate under the tree, in advent calendars or in stockings alongside other treats. However, other countries take this chocolate holiday even further. 

In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas — or Saint Nicholas — walks the stress on the 5th of December, carrying bags of chocolate to give to children. Dutch stores sell chocolate alphabet letters throughout the month — popular gifts for loved ones.

Whilst, for us Brits, there are 24 days before Christmas, in Iceland there are 13. Each night in the lead up to Christmas, Icelandic children place shoes by their window. Every night they are visited by the 13 Yule Lads. If they have been good, they’ll receive chocolate, but if they haven’t, then they’ll find a shoe stuffed with rotten potatoes (we hope they’re not later used for the Christmas dinner…)

Chocolate: not just for holidays!

Chocolate holidays are something we particularly look forward to at Hotel Chocolat. Look out for our seasonal treats throughout the year, from delectable giant Easter eggs to indulgent advent calendars.

However, you don’t have to necessarily wait for a festivity to indulge in your favourite chocolate treat. In Brazil, Brigadeiros (a sort of chocolate truffle) are typically given at birthdays or weddings. At Hotel Chocolat, we have a range of chocolate gifts for you to treat a loved one with… including yourself!