Valentine’s Day is nearly here, and Morrisons are selling heart-shaped tarts to mark the occasion – but everyone is making the same joke about the strawberry flan
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us – and those who are loved up or looking to impress a potential significant other may be pulling out all the stops to do so.
With supermarkets all stocking different variations of tasty treats and gifts, it can be hard to choose which one your partner would prefer. However, when it comes to what Morrisons are offering, people have been left making the same joke.
Their freshly prepared heart tart is limited edition – and is apparently set to “send customers’ hearts aflutter this Valentine’s Day“. Morrisons shares: “The butter pastry case is filled with a hand-made smooth crème pâtissière, finished with delicately placed hand-cut fresh British strawberries and drizzled with a sweet raspberry glaze to finish”.
However, when Newfoodsuk shared a picture of the tart on Facebook, people were left baffled, all making the exact same joke about the sweet treat. Many reckoned it was a little bit of a questionable shape, which takes away the romantic effect of displaying a heart.
Someone wrote: “That’s a heart shape? I’d be surprised if Aldi UK doesn’t roast this”. Another joked: “Aww, it’s sweet they’re giving children the opportunity to show off their baking [skills]”.
A third jibed: “That heart looks as though it’s been cheated on several times.” Meanwhile, a fourth pointed out: “It looks squashed.”
However, it wasn’t just the shape that shoppers took issue with. Some were horrified that supermarkets “make something heart-shaped and then charge double”.
One asked: “Bro, why is a bit of pastry and cream £6?” However, the Market Street Large Strawberry Flan is £5, so the heart version is only an extra £1.
It’s also worth noting that it’s likely cheaper than going out to have a romantic dinner in a restaurant on February 14.
Where does the Valentine’s Day tradition come from?
Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14th, has origins that blend ancient Roman traditions, Christian history, and later romantic customs.
The festival is often linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. Lupercalia was a fertility celebration dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and to Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. The festivities included rituals intended to bring fertility and purify the city.
However, the modern name comes from Saint Valentine – a Christian martyr. There are several legends about Saint Valentine, but the most popular is that he was a priest in Rome who performed secret marriages for young lovers in defiance of Emperor Claudius II, who had banned marriage for young men. Valentine was executed on February 14th, and later, the day was associated with his martyrdom.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love, especially in England and France. This was partly due to the belief that February 14th was the beginning of birds’ mating season. The tradition of exchanging love notes and tokens grew, and by the 18th century, it became common to send hand-made cards and gifts.
While you should celebrate your loved ones every day of the year, it’s nice to have another excuse to get romantic!
