Did you know that in Valencia we have our own Valentine’s Day, which is more than 300 years old? It is the day of San Donis, a day where lovers give each other sweets wrapped in a handkerchief and that dates back to the War of Succession.
For this reason, this coming October 9 thousands of Valencians will go to the best bakeries and pastry shops to get their mocadorà. But where does this tradition come from?
As custom dictates, every October 9, coinciding with the Day of the Valencian Community, couples give each other marzipan sweets wrapped in a mocador, a handkerchief, hence the name mocadorà . Generally, these come in three shapes: firecrackers, fruit and vegetables.
This custom dates back to the 18th century. During the War of Succession, Felipe V banned the celebration of the 9 d’Octubre, and thus the pyrotechnic shots to celebrate it. To circumvent this measure, Valencian confectioners decided to make sweets in the shape of these banned firecrackers.
Known as piulets and tronadors, two of the most popular firecrackers, they began to be sold massively throughout the territory. Later, fruits and vegetables were added, symbol of the fertility of the Valencian land.
Coinciding with the day of San Dionisio, patron saint of Valencian lovers, this rebellion became customary and has survived to the present day.
Currently, more than 70,000 kilos of marzipan are consumed just for this celebration in the Valencian Community.