Romantic Food - Love in the Kitchen
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.
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.

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