Valentine's Day and Chocolate: A Love Story

 

Cacao pod cut in half.

When you think of Valentine’s Day, you might also think of chocolate. Many people today share chocolate with loved ones on Valentine’s Day. But this was not always the case. In fact, it took thousands of years for chocolate and Valentine’s Day to get together.

People have enjoyed chocolate for as long as 4,000 years. Chocolate was very important to ancient civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs. They made chocolate drinks from cacao beans. Cacao beans were so important in those civilizations that some say they were as valuable as gold.

Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Spain in the 1500s. Slowly, word of chocolate drinks spread across Europe. Royalty in countries like France and Great Britain thought that chocolate was a magical drink.

By this time, people in Europe were already celebrating Valentine’s Day. They would write letters to each other to celebrate. They would share poems, songs, and roses. In all of these Valentines there was one thing missing: chocolate.

Finally, in the 1800s in Great Britain, Richard Cadbury had an idea. His family already made chocolates. He put the chocolates in boxes. He covered the boxes with hearts and cupids. Ever since, people have been sharing chocolate on Valentine’s Day. You could say that chocolate and Valentine’s Day are the perfect match!

Comprehension Questions

1.

According to the text, when do many people today share chocolate? 

1. on St. Patrick's Day 
2. on Halloween 
3. on Valentine's Day 

2.

The text describes a sequence of events that resulted in people sharing chocolate on Valentine's Day. What happened in the 1500s? 

1. Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Spain. 
2. Richard Cadbury began putting chocolates in boxes. 
3. The Aztecs and Mayans began making chocolate drinks from cacao beans. 

3.

Read the following sentences:

"Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Spain in the 1500s. Slowly, word of chocolate drinks spread across Europe. Royalty in countries like France and Great Britain thought that chocolate was a magical drink."

Based on this information, when did people in Europe start to drink chocolate?

1. before chocolate became very important to ancient civilizations 
2. when Richard Cadbury began putting chocolates in boxes in the 1800s 
3. after explorers brought chocolate back to Spain in the 1500s 

 

5.

What is the main idea of this text? 

1. Chocolate was very important to ancient civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs who made chocolate drinks from cacao beans and considered the beans to be as valuable as gold. 
2. Word of chocolate drinks spread across Europe after Spanish explorers brought chocolate back to Spain in the 1500s. 
3. Sharing chocolate with loved ones on Valentine's Day became popular after Richard Cadbury came up with the idea of putting chocolates in boxes covered with hearts and cupids. 

4.

Why does the text state that "when you think of Valentine's Day, you might also think of chocolate"? 

1. because people celebrate chocolate on Valentine's Day 
2. because sharing chocolate with loved ones on Valentine's Day is very common 
3. because cacao beans were very valuable to some ancient civilizations