candy

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National Chocolate Day

Hail Brave Hearts

The sweets are the treats.  Of all of the fabulous adventures of our lives, the delicacy of the world of sweet, is a treat for all of us.  Chocolate for the chocoholic, the worlds favourite flavour.  To have a World Chocolate Day is to honour and recognize the outstanding significance of flavour.  It’s  an opportunity to explore the magic kingdom of this sweet delight and it’s not just one day.  There are four Chocolate Days.  World Chocolate Day (July 7)  National Chocolate Day ( October  28 and December 28) and International Chocolate Day on September 13.  Chocolate is a very important subject.

Chocolate bars, syrup, ice cream, candy, icing, and cooking bars, We drool for this taste sensation and overindulge in it frequently.  Chocolate is one of life’s pleasant, culinary adventures.

The joy of Chocolate.  Easter bunnies and Easter eggs,  chocolate birthday cake, chocolate in the Christmas stocking and under the tree, a  box of  chocolates for a gift.  Valentines Day chocolates and Mother’s Day as well.  Chocolate in the cupboard, chocolate in the fridge, in our pockets and in our purses.  We love this stuff.  It’s good for us.  At least, we hope so.  With something as sweet as this, that we eat so much of,  it must be good for us.  And it is, to a certain extent.  Too much chocolate adds fats, calories  and unnecessary sugars, causing overweight and cavities.  On the bright side, chocolate, especially dark chocolate can reduce stress, contains anti oxidants, lowers cholesterol, improves brain functioning, improves heart health, reduces inflammation, enhances mood and supports weight loss.

How It’s Made: Chocolate (youtube.com)

Since there are health benefits to chocolate, an occasional craving must be OK.

Since it’s arrival in Europe in 1550, chocolate has made a deep impression on our lives.  It’s part of our diet and our culture.  So many recipes call for chocolate that it’s associated with some of our holidays and special days. It’s so popular that it occupies a whole field in culinary craft.  Chocolatiers are specialists in making chocolate.

It is possible for you to  make your own, if you can find the beans.

Otherwise, enjoy this sweet treat on this special day.  A day of chocolate delight.

Written by Louise E Hayes

July 7, 2024

Bunnies and Eggs
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Bunnies and Eggs

Good Day Brave Hearts

Happy Easter to all.

The Easter Bunny is hop, hop, hopping into our world again, to help us celebrate the Easter story, with a twist.  An animal twist that supports the rabbit as a part of the celebration of life.  The resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday and the traditional Easter Egg hunt.

Regardless of your faith, Easter is celebrated by most of us, in a manner of religion, or fun.  The furry animal, with eggs and candies kind of fun.  A bunny, or a rabbit, maybe a hare, of noteworthy cuteness, bringing Easter eggs in many colours and many candy forms.  Chocolate, for the chocoholics, who cherish the world of chocolate treats.  Chocolate bunnies and eggs, hollow or filled,  jelly beans and cream centred eggs, a dietary delight of candy.   Lovely candy, full of richness and sugar, the confectioners delight.  Easter is a booming business in the candy trade.

Of course, there’s also flowers, with the traditional flower of Easter being the  Calla Lily, which blooms at Easter time and gives us a  festive tradition to participate in, whether you believe in the Christian story of resurrection or not.

Spring is here, the wild crocuses are in bloom and the Easter bunny is hopping along, spreading Easter eggs in hiding places for us to find.  It’s a fun story, which capitalizes on an ancient story of death and resurrection.  The rise of Jesus of Nazareth from the tomb, which  coincides with the passing of winter into spring.  A symbolic passing from the dead of winter to the new life of spring, immortalized by the death of the Savior on the cross, to the revelation of a vacant tomb and new life.  The new life of rebirth, of being reborn, of the passing of death to life.  It’s a symbolic time, a holy time, a time to cherish the Lord and the representation that all life will live.

Easter Symbols and Traditions – Easter Bunny, Eggs & Lilies | HISTORY

Julius Caesar noticed that in old England, no one would eat hares.  Hares had been connected to the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the Holy family.  The prolific rabbit, sends a message of fertility to us, with large families.  So does the egg.  Painting eggs is part of the Easter past time and egg painting is a celebrated art in some countries. The tradition of painting eggs in bright colours, so that we can find them under pillows, in the yard, hiding in trees and in plants, is a joyous part of Easter celebrations, but it also sends a message.  Eggs are fertility  It’s spring and rebirth is all around us.

The fabulous Savior, who survives death and is resurrected into this world, only to ascend to Heaven, is a story of awesome wonder at the miraculous life of Jesus.  The miracle of death and resurrection, life and death, rebirth.   It is also a time of family holiday and a celebration of the impossible.  Rising from the dead, speaking to people, walking streets.  It’s a mystery still unsolved.  It’s a mystery of faith.

The easy way to resolve Easter, is to paint Easter eggs and adore the bunny, who comes hop, hop, hopping along.

Written by Dr. Louise Hayes

March 30, 2024