[MSA Deep Records FILE] GODIVA, the Edible Jewel!! The Story of a Noblewoman Lurking Behind Its Sweetness

"MSA Deep Records FILES" is a mystery investigation series that pursues unsolved cases, historical enigmas, and inexplicable phenomena left behind around the world.
Since receiving the Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Belgian Royal Court in 1968, GODIVA has been hailed as an "edible jewel."

Founder Joseph Draps was born into a family of chocolate makers that had continued for generations in Brussels, Belgium.
Draps had a vision of creating "luxurious and beautiful chocolates" that were different from the common chocolates of the time—something so exquisite it could be called a work of art.
That is why he founded "GODIVA" in 1926.
He wanted them to be more than just chocolate; he wanted them to be elegant, beautiful, graceful, and noble masterpieces. The name "GODIVA" and the logo of a naked woman with her hair flowing gracefully while riding a horse played a role in that brand image.

By the way, while brand names are often named after their founders, "GODIVA" is not.
Did you know that "GODIVA" is actually the name of a noblewoman who existed in the 11th century? And the naked woman on the horse is the symbol of Lady Godiva's heroic legend.
It was the history of a region suffering from heavy taxes due to tyranny, much like the Japanese people today.

Lady Godiva was a woman of noble birth who lived in the 11th century and was the wife of Earl Leofric, a powerful lord in the Mercia region of England.
A very devout Christian who cared for her people, Lady Godiva was beloved, unlike her tyrannical husband.
In medieval England, lords maintained their lands by collecting taxes from the peasants. Therefore, the tax rates set by the lord were a crucial issue that directly affected the lives of the peasants.
Earl Leofric was imposing heavy taxes on his people to pay for his repeated wars.
Smiles vanished from the faces of the peasants, and the playful voices of children turned into cries of pain from the grueling labor they were forced to perform...
A sad atmosphere hung over the entire Mercia region.
The peasants began to consult Lady Godiva, and she spent her days agonizing over what to do.
Lady Godiva knew all too well that the tyrant Earl Leofric would not listen to a word she said.
However, she could no longer overlook it, and one day, she pleaded with Earl Leofric: "Please, lift the heavy taxes from the people. They are exhausted and are losing the very will to live."
Earl Leofric, who did not like being talked back to by a woman, his eyes reddened with engorged capillaries and his expression murderous, said,
"Wife, it is impossible to lift the taxes. However..."
With a frivolous smile on the corner of his mouth, Earl Leofric said,
"If you ride a horse naked through the town, I will lift the taxes in recognition of your courage."
Naturally, Lady Godiva was stunned and wept at her husband's treatment, which weighed her people's suffering against her own modesty.
It was a humiliating condition that could not possibly be accepted.
However, Lady Godiva had a strong conviction to "save the people." So, she decided to ride a horse naked through the town.
However, her servants were shocked and persuaded her to reconsider, saying, "If Lady Godiva were to suffer such humiliation, we would rather endure it ourselves."
This rumor spread quickly from the mouths of the servants.
Tearful and trembling, Lady Godiva followed Earl Leofric's orders, exposing her beautiful naked body and riding out into the town on a horse. The townspeople were shocked, and as soon as they saw the horse carrying Lady Godiva, they closed their windows and curtains and shut their own eyes.
During Lady Godiva's naked procession, not a single person came out into the street, and no one humiliated her. The legend says that the stunned Earl Leofric kept his promise and abolished the heavy taxes.

Joseph Draps thought that Lady Godiva's strong conviction, elegance, nobility, compassion, and spirit of self-sacrifice were perfect for high-end chocolate, so he made it the brand name and logo.
Incidentally, the Latin meaning of "GODIVA" is "gift from God." In 1926, against the backdrop of a world exhausted after World War I, Draps cast a spell on chocolate, a popular confection, and turned it into a jewel with beautifully designed packaging.
Thus, he completed a delicate, sweet luxury that lasted only for a moment. It became truly a "gift from God" that allowed people to forget the painful experiences and sorrows of war, even if only for a while. And that spirit of Lady Godiva is still passed down today.

I think I'll go buy some GODIVA tomorrow...