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| Medieval
Chivalry
From buying a woman dinner to opening a door for her, many of today's
courting rituals are rooted in medieval chivalry. During medieval
times, the importance of love in a relationship emerged as a reaction
to arranged marriages, but was still not considered a prerequisite
in matrimonial decisions. Suitors wooed their intended with seranades
and flowery poetry, following the lead of lovelorn characters on
stage and in verse. Chastity and honor were highly regarded virtues.
In 1228, women first gained the right to propose marriage in Scotland,
a legal right that then slowly spread through Europe. |
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Candles and flowers are a must. Not only are they pleasing to the
eye, but they evoke pleasurable aromas and thoughts. Don't use highly-scented
flowers or candles, though. You don't want to cover up the inviting
aromas of your meal. Dim the lights and put on soothing background
music. If you have a fireplace, you might want to consider setting
your table up in front of a blazing fire for added ambiance. Make
sure the answering machine is on and in silent mode, and be sure the
champagne is chilled and ready to pop! And, by all means, leave the
dishes for another day. Better
yet, why not invite your loved one into the kitchen to cook with you?
It can be a sensual experience. There are many cookbooks on foods
of love designed to make cooking together an intimate experience in
and of itself.
History of Romance
Where would we be without romance? What was courtship and marriage
like for our distant ancestors? Beginning with the ancient Greeks'
recognition of the need to describe more than one kind of love,
inventing the word "eros" to describe carnal love, and
"agape" to mean a spiritual love, take a stroll back through
romantic heritage with this timeline of romantic customs, dating
rituals, and tokens of love.
Ancient Courtship
In ancient times, many of the first marriages were by capture, not
choice - when there was a scarcity of nubile women, men raided other
villages for wives. Frequently the tribe from which a warrior stole
a bride would come looking for her, and it was necessary for the
warrior and his new wife to go into hiding to avoid being discovered.
According to an old French custom, as the moon went through all
its phases the couple drank a brew called metheglin, which was made
from honey. Hence,
we get the word, honeymoon. Arranged marriages were the norm, primarily
business relationships born.
Click
for the continuation of History of Romance
Afrodisiac Romantic
foods Romantic Finger Foods
Picnic Recipes Romantic
Ideas Valentine's Day Recipes
Wedding Recipes
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