> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TheChocolateLifeLIVE – Valentine’s Day Retcon - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelifelive-valentines-day-retcon/ - Published: 2023-02-16T00:59:29.000Z - Updated: 2023-02-17T16:44:53.000Z - Description: Episode 91 of #TheChocolateLifeLIVE streams Friday, February 17th from 12:00~13:00. - Author: TheChocolateWire - Tags: Live Stream, The Wire **Retroactive continuity**, **retcon** for short, is, according to Wikipedia, “a literary device in which facts in the world of a fictional work which have been established through the narrative itself are adjusted, ignored, supplemented, or contradicted by a subsequently published work which recontextualizes or breaks continuity with the former.” While retconning is perhaps most closely associated with sci-fi / fantasy / YA novels and films and American politics, the modern-day Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday reboot/retcon. If there were ever a more successful retcon machine than is Hallmark, as evidenced by the relentless torrent of cards and movies it spews, I am unaware if it. And all of that output has a single goal: to tug at the heartstrings with enough force to persuade millions to part with ***billions*** in hard-earned (for some of us; for others, ill-gotten) valuta. Too cynical? That’s part of what I’ll be covering in this episode of TheChocolateLifeLIVE: the actual origins of the holiday, how Victorians viewed it, its mid-20th reboot, and the incentive to rampant consumerism – some it chocolate, much of that chocolate *seriously awful* – that it has become today. --- ### **Resources** [Valentine’s Day - Wikipedia![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png)Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Antique_Valentine_1909_01.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s%5FDay?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [What’s the story behind Valentine’s Day? Less about love and more of a bloodbathWhile Valentine’s Day might be associated with romantic love, the real story behind its namesake St. Valentine is full of bloodshed and heartbreak.![](https://www.usatoday.com/favicon.ico)USA TODAYMichelle Shen![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/01/10/USAT/be5a5ce6-8b4c-4c45-ba71-7515bd038866-GettyImages-1177913211.jpg?crop=1731,974,x0,y376&width=1731&height=974&format=pjpg&auto=webp)](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/11/history-valentines-day-saint-valentine/6708885001/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [What’s your state’s favorite Valentine’s Day treat? Google shares popular searchesHow are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Google shared a list with USA TODAY of uniquely searched Valentine’s Day sweets by state.![](https://www.usatoday.com/favicon.ico)USA TODAYMarina Pitofsky![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e19df7c4a5824fdf0aad4681866d7e2db710f02a/c=8-0-1912-1075/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/02/14/1392398199000-0214ym04.jpg?width=1904&height=1075&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/11/valentines-day-treats-by-state/6741939001/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Gifting Chocolate for Valentine’s DayUpdated for 2022! Whatever you decide to do, make it fun. If it involves chocolate and you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeDiscoverChoc![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2021/01/jasmine-waheed-hQPLAFopuaE-1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/buying-chocolate-to-gift-for-valentines-day/) [The Heart of the Matter: A History of Valentine Cards - Google Arts & CultureFrom the Collections of The Strong National Museum of Play | Rochester, New York![](https://www.gstatic.com/culturalinstitute/stella/android-chrome-192x192-v1.png)Google Arts & Culture![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci/AEwo86dxFIQGrAPMTEKS28mBTwsBMQfFQVB_RTPYFeS18JfKONbRk87rvb7vocrOvrdP63UnnECrgg)](https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-heart-of-the-matter-a-history-of-valentine-cards-the-strong/ZAVR0t8TzcBFKw?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Be My Valentine | Smithsonian InstitutionNo matter how you choose to express your affection, find inspiration in our collections. From vintage valentines to love songs, our collections have heart. ... Learn more![](https://www.si.edu/sites/all/themes/si_baseline/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png?v=Jy7B3ml8wp)Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution![](http://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?max=1200&id=NMAH-AHB2013q013085)](https://www.si.edu/spotlight/valentines?ref=thechocolatelife.com) 🍫 **Victorian-Era 'Vinegar' Valentines Could Be Mean and Hostile** Rather than expressing love and affection, these cards were designed to offend. [History Channel](https://www.history.com/news/victorian-valentines-day-cards-vinegar?ref=thechocolatelife.com) 🍫 The History Channel tried to write about the history of chocolate on Valentine’s Day ... [and faceplanted](https://www.history.com/news/valentines-day-chocolate-box-history-cadbury?ref=thechocolatelife.com). Cadbury did not perfect extracting cocoa butter and it is the Fry family that first added this butter into their chocolate recipes. [The Smithsonian *also* credits Cadbury](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chocolate-and-valentines-day-mated-life-180954228/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) for perfecting the extraction of cocoa butter and ignoring the contributions of Van Houten and Fry families. [Valentine’s Day | Hallmark Corporate InformationApproximately 114 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged making it the second-largest card holiday. See what’s new for Valentine’s Day from Hallmark.![](https://corporate.hallmark.com/favicon.ico)Hallmark Corporate![](https://corporate.hallmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/HolidayOccassion-ValentinesDay.jpg)](https://corporate.hallmark.com/holidays-occasions/valentines-day/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Hallmark began producing its own Valentine’s Day cards in 1916 (*during* the 1st World War.) [Average Cost Of Valentine’s Day: 2023 Statistics | BankrateChocolates, flowers and restaurant bills can add up. Bankrate has the latest data on how much people really plan on spending this Valentine’s Day.![](https://www.bankrate.com/favicon.ico)Bankrate.comLane Gillespie![](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/02/11122007/Average-cost-valentines-day-1.jpg)](https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/valentines-day-cost/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) More detailed spending statistics than the original source. ## Livestream Links ### **Watch/Participate on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn.** [Visit TheChocolateWire Channel on YouTube](https://youtube.com/@TheChocolateLife?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [My LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fthechocolatelifelive-valentines-valentinesday-activity-7031787563170308096-fgXj?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop) [TheChocolateLife page](https://www.facebook.com/TheChocolateLife/) on Facebook (live event) --- ### **Hashtags** #valentines #valentinesday #bemyvalentine #chocolate #cacao #cocoa #cacau #TheChocolateLife #LaVidaCocoa --- 💡 ***Have thoughts to share or questions to ask?*** Leave them in the comments.