Ways of Celebrating Valentine's Day--Pretty Cookie House

There are lots of ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. Most people give or send cards with sentimental messages, a custom that dates back at least to the 15th century. Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote the earliest known Valentine to his wife back in France in 1415 while imprisoned in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt.

The now popular habit of giving fancy heart-shaped boxes of candy is modern and only took hold in the 20th century. Ditto the custom of sending flowers by wire, messages via e-cards, and serving up chocolate treats like brownies with chocolate sauce or chocolate pots de creme!

Lizzie's Valentine's cookie house

Over the past decade or so, I've started noticing that some families celebrate by making gingerbread Valentine's cottages. These are obviously a take-off on the Christmas gingerbread house custom. This year I drew up plans for a little cookie house, which my niece then constructed. Earlier this week my 6-year old granddaughter had great fun finishing the decorating. (I helped when asked, but forced myself to let her do this on her own!) She's been informed that she has to share the house with her brother, since he wasn't around to help with it. (To make some pretty Valentine's cookies go here. Cookie decorating can be fun at other seasons, too; my granddaughter and niece loved "painting" some Halloween cookies last fall.


Probably because I'm good at making my own desserts confections, I generally recieve cards and flowers, not candy, and give my hubby the sweet treats. One of his faves that actually contains no chocolate are my zesty, easy berry streusel bars.