Scroll to explore events active on this date.
A toddler playing in the fountain at a park in Santa Fe, New Mexico—Photo LD Lewis. In August, we live through the Dog Days of Summer. It's hot and often humid, and those ...
Can you hear that sigh of relief from parents worldwide? Yes! September marks the return of students to school, a global phenomenon. Preparations for the ACT and SATs begin earnestly for ...
October is the busiest month for events, with 5% more happening than in May, the second most eventful month. Sailing enthusiasts will be glued to the finals of this year's Am...
Cocoa, the base ingredient of chocolate, is truly a family affair. Currently, 90% of all cocoa comes from family farms of fewer than five hectares each.
The Mayans were the first to use cocoa beans with peppers for medicine as a beverage and spice. The debate continues as to who, the ancient Olmec or the Mayans, were the first civilization to farm cocoa beans around 1000BC purposely. What we do know is this delicacy of the new world was first encountered by Christopher Columbus when he landed on the island of Guanaja in 1502.
However, it would have to wait until Hernan Cortez arrived in Tabasco in 1519 before the world realized its actual culinary value. Cortez was presented with cocoa beans by the ruler of the Aztecs, Montezuma. For the Aztecs, the cocoa plant was sacred.
Cortez brought the beans back to Europe, and the customs of drinking and preparing the bitter bean were made heavenly by sweetening. The rest is history.
On National Cocoa Day, we appreciate the origins of the cocoa bean and enjoy the delicacies it creates. The most common way to celebrate in the cold months of December is with a cup of hot chocolate.
National Cocoa Day is an unofficial holiday with no sponsor.
Currently, this event does not have supporting videos.
Currently, this event does not have supporting documents.
Currently, this event does not have supporting images.