World Chocolate Day 2022: what date is celebrated, date and history of the holiday

Those with a sweet tooth probably know about Chocolate Day, which is celebrated annually at the height of summer on July 11th. The idea of the celebration belongs to the French: they are big fans of the exquisite delicacy. Since 1995, the holiday was considered national, but over time, other countries adopted a similar tradition.

Due to the enormous popularity of this event, World Chocolate Day began to be celebrated four times a year: September 2 and 13, June 9 and traditionally July 11. The Americans, who gave the holiday the name World Chocolate Day, dedicated 2 more days to their favorite delicacy: October 28 and July 7. So those with a sweet tooth have a reason to taste chocolate and take part in entertaining competitions and festivals as many as 6 times a year.

Holiday traditions

On this day, competitions, festivals, promotions and exhibitions of chocolate creations are held, preparations for which begin 3-5 months before the date of the holiday. Factories and factories for the production of sweets organize excursions and tastings. Anyone can try themselves as a chocolatier. Chocolate manufacturers organize promotions and provide customers with discounts on their products. Fans of this delicacy buy chocolate figurines and souvenirs.

There are chocolate museums in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Pokrov. Every year on July 11, they organize mass celebrations and fairs where various chocolate products are presented. Among them you can even see sweet clothes and household items.

Famous films about chocolate

Figure 4. Still from the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Chocolate occupies the minds of not only confectioners, but also famous film directors. We present the most famous films dedicated to the delicacy of the ancient Mayans:

“Chocolate” is a film about the relationship between people and sweets. The main roles were played by Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” - surprisingly, Johnny Depp played the main role in this film. The famous children's film tells the story of the difficult fate of a successful chocolatier and a little boy from a poor family.
“Chocolate Lessons” – as fate would have it, a construction contractor ends up working in chocolate production. Over time, his irritation from this work gives way to joy. Here he finds his love.
“A Pastry Chef's Fate” – two pastry chefs, Marco and Grace, hate each other, but during a pastry competition they are forced to team up. They are trying to win with the help of the Barrosi coffee and chocolate cake.
Romantics Anonymous is a love story between a chocolate factory owner and confectioner Angelica.

Toasts

“Congratulations to all chocolate lovers. Happy holiday, dear sweet tooth! We wish you to try as much chocolate variety as possible from various craftsmen of this noble product and get true and unforgettable pleasure from these glorious delicacies.”

“Happy Chocolate Day! Yes, this is a very unusual occasion for a celebration, but chocolate deserves it! Not only is it incredibly delicious, but it also lifts your spirits! I wish you to please yourself more often with it, the best, melting in your mouth, and to rejoice even when chocolate is not at hand, because life is so good!

“Happy World Chocolate Day! On this holiday of all the sweet tooth of the planet, I wish you a chocolate mood, sweet life, delicious gifts and a number of irreplaceable friends who are always ready to bring your favorite candies or help destroy them in a cheerful company!

How did chocolate come about?

The history of chocolate begins in 1000 BC, when the natives of Latin America (the Olmec tribe) first paid attention to the fruits of the chocolate tree. It is believed that chocolate is a derivative of xocolātl. Among the ancient aborigines, this word meant “bitter water.” The fact is that the delicacy was initially consumed only in liquid form, with the addition of hot pepper and sweet corn grains. Cocoa was mixed with these unusual ingredients, whisked in water until foam appeared, and drunk only when the drink began to ferment. It is noteworthy that only leaders were allowed to use it. Women, children and commoners had no right to touch the divine nectar. The Mayans and the Aztecs had the same traditions. They even worshiped a cocoa god named Ek-Chuah.

Mayan God of Cocoa Ek Chuah

The first European to taste the overseas delicacy was the navigator Columbus. Unfortunately, he could not appreciate the cold and spicy drink, so he gave the grains to the American Indians. The fruits of the chocolate tree came to Spain in the 16th century thanks to Cortes, the conquistador who conquered Mexico. Having defeated the Aztecs, he became the owner of unique cocoa plantations and established supplies throughout Europe. The Spanish monks and hidalgos who made the dessert changed the recipe, eliminating pepper and spices and adding sugar. Thanks to this, the drink became sweet and pleasant to the taste, and was also served hot.

In the Middle Ages, dessert was literally worth its weight in gold due to high taxes and production difficulties. In France, they became acquainted with the delicacy thanks to Louis’s wife, Anne of Austria. The British and Germans immediately picked up the fashion trend. Chocolate became an exquisite dessert for nobles and high-ranking persons, and chocolate houses soon filled all the streets of Paris and London.

In 1847, the British confectioner Fry made a revolutionary discovery: he added cocoa butter to the dessert, which caused the chocolate to freeze and harden. This is how the first chocolate bar appeared. Since the middle of the 19th century, the new confectionery product began to be produced by the largest factories in the world: the English Cadbury (famous for its Wispa and Picnic bars), the Swiss Nestle (which was initially focused on producing artificial milk formulas for infants), the Russian Einem (which was later renamed " Red October"). Today there are a huge number of both large companies and individual manufacturers of hand made products. World Chocolate Day has become evidence of the popularity of this confectionery product throughout the world and among all peoples and generations.

Present

Chocolate souvenir. This chocolate figurine will be an excellent gift for a sweet tooth. You can present a romantic person with a heart or a cute animal made of chocolate. A product in the shape of a motorcycle, car or wrench will serve as a courageous present.

Fondue set. The fondue set will allow you to enjoy your favorite delicacy in melted form, combine it with fruit or marshmallows.

Chocolate bouquet. A bouquet of chocolates will be an unusual and original surprise for a sweet tooth.

Master Class. A certificate for a master class on making chocolates will serve as an interesting gift that will allow you to spend time usefully and with pleasure.

You can celebrate World Chocolate Day on July 11th at home

This year, mass events are unlikely to take place: due to the pandemic, they are banned. Therefore, it makes sense to take a closer look at the work of local confectionery workshops: for the holiday, they not only prepare a variety of delicacies, but also conduct master classes for children and adults. And this is a great opportunity to make delicious tiles with your own hands and treat yourself to an original treat.

You can organize a tasting for friends or family at home and try bars with unexpected flavors. For example, with the addition of hot pepper, sea salt, seaweed and even bacon. Among the treats with original flavors of the bar:

with black truffle;
with camel milk;
with gold crumbs;
with absinthe;
with tobacco leaves.

Even connoisseurs and connoisseurs of various tastes can easily find new and unexpected delicacies in the manufacturers’ lines.

pixabay.com/

Competitions

Wrap up the candy Participants in the competition are given chocolates or dragees and pieces of foil. At the command of the presenter, the contestants begin to wrap the candies. After the time has passed, participants count how many candies they managed to wrap. The one with the most finished products in his account wins.

Chocolate basketball Participants in the competition are given the same number of chocolates; glasses or baskets are placed at a distance. Players take turns trying to throw candies into containers. The one with the most successful hits wins. If several participants have the same number of points, then an additional round is held.

Chocolate balance Two teams with the same number of participants take part in the competition. The presenter marks the start and finish, and gives each team a chocolate bar. Participants take turns carrying a chocolate bar on their heads from start to finish, return back and pass the baton to the next team member. If a player drops a tile, he returns to the start and begins the task again. The team that manages to complete the task faster wins.

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According to legend, the birthplace of the oldest drink is South America - the Spanish conquerors, who first brought chocolate to Europe, dubbed the delicacy “black gold.”

World Chocolate Day is a young holiday that was invented by the French and first celebrated in 1995.

Then Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and other countries joined the holiday. Today it is celebrated in many countries around the world, and the popularity of this holiday continues to grow.

How to celebrate

Each country hosts special events - exhibitions, fairs, master classes and tastings are dedicated to chocolate, various competitions, including those for eating more of the sweet delicacy, which delights both children and adults on this day.

Massive festive events are usually organized by large supermarkets or confectionery factories, where visitors on this day are shown how chocolate masterpieces are born.

Monument to chocolate (author Ilya Shanin) in the city of Pokrov, Vladimir region

Restaurants and cafes offer a luxurious chocolate menu and serve chocolate surprises.

In Switzerland, on this day they ride the “chocolate train”, and in Belgium they visit real chocolate museums. In Germany, a whole Chocolateland has been built, a separate world, where sweet shows are organized for visitors every day.

Americans love chocolate so much that Chocolate Day is celebrated twice a year.

Russians also celebrate World Chocolate Day on a grand scale in Pokrov, where the world’s only monument to the favorite delicacy of children and adults is erected - the Bronze Fairy. The three-meter statue flaunts next to the Pokrovsk Chocolate Museum, which is full of tourists on holiday.

At the holiday, a traditional activity, of course, is eating chocolate. But chocolate body art is considered one of the main entertainments - with the help of a brush and liquid chocolate, real masterpieces are created on the face and body.

Crown made of chocolate and marzipan, from the Nikolya Chocolate Museum collection

Chocolate baths are also popular, because chocolate has excellent cosmetic properties.

It should be noted that chocolate festivals are held in many cities around the world, and the date of their holding does not always coincide with World Chocolate Day. These sweet festivals delight residents and guests of Paris, Bruges, Turin, Hershey (USA), London, Toledo, Amsterdam, and Dublin.

During such festivals, in addition to tasting all sorts and types of chocolate, you can stay in a chocolate hotel, visit a chocolate spa and stroll through a chocolate park.

On this day, it is customary to congratulate your familiar confectioners, artists who design chocolate wrappers, sweet tooths and all chocolate lovers.

World Chocolate Day is a great occasion to have a chocolate party and give each other “sweet gifts.”

Divine drink

Chocolate is an ancient drink - it appeared about three thousand years ago in the form of a hot drink made from cocoa beans. It was first prepared by Indians from the Olmec tribe, who once lived in the territory of modern Mexico.

Later, this tradition became part of the Mayan culture, who called the drink divine. The Mayans ground roasted beans and mixed them with water, added special spices (in particular, pepper) and drank the drink cold. Only a select few could drink the drink, as it was considered sacred - the Mayans prayed and made sacrifices to the cocoa god Ek Chuah.

Pot of flowers made of chocolate

In the XII-XIV centuries, the Aztec state existed on the territory of modern Mexico. Having conquered neighboring tribes, the Aztecs exacted tribute from them, which included cocoa beans, which were used to prepare a drink and also as a bargaining chip.

According to legend, the Aztec leader Montezuma loved the drink made from the fruits of the cocoa tree so much that he drank 50 small cups of this drink every day. The ancient Indians called the drink chocolatl (from choco - “foam” and latl - “water”), which is where the modern name of the delicacy may have come from.

And chocolatl was served in gold glasses decorated with precious stones.

Chocolate appeared in Europe only in the 16th century - the recipe was brought by the Spaniards in 1527, who were the first to appreciate this drink. The Spaniards believed that chocolate not only strengthened strength, but also promoted the rapid healing of wounds.

Confectionery factory work

They changed the recipe - they added sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, which made the chocolate more delicious. The ruling nobility immediately introduced huge taxes on cocoa beans, so only a select few, that is, those who were able to pay for chocolate, could afford the divine drink in Spain.

France discovered the taste of chocolate in 1615, thanks to the marriage between Louis XIII and the Spanish infanta Anna of Austria. The fashionable drink, which was drunk in all aristocratic houses and expensive coffee shops, gradually conquered all of Europe. It was an expensive pleasure that only rich and noble people could afford.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, chocolate was consumed exclusively in liquid form - the world's first solid chocolate bar was created by the Swiss Francois Louis Cahier in 1819.

It was only at the beginning of the 20th century that chocolate began to be produced in large volumes, and it became available to the general population. Today, chocolate is a delicacy without which many people on our planet cannot imagine their lives.

About the benefits of chocolate

Chocolate is not only delicious, but also very healthy. It contains elements that promote relaxation and psychological recovery, as established by modern science.

Research has proven that dark chocolate is much healthier for humans than milk, white and other varieties.

A model demonstrates a dress made of chocolate

Dark varieties of chocolate stimulate the release of endorphins—happiness hormones that affect the pleasure center, improve mood and maintain body tone.

German scientists suggest that the flavonoids found in chocolate absorb ultraviolet radiation, thereby helping to protect the skin and increase blood flow, which ultimately improves its appearance.

Research has also found that dark chocolate helps improve vision in countries with poor weather conditions, and helps lower blood pressure, which is beneficial for maintaining proper cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity and platelet function.

Chocolate is rich in nutrients, including fats, and therefore calories, which naturally cannot contribute to weight loss. At the same time, chocolate dulls the feeling of hunger - it is enough to eat 10 grams of dark chocolate for hunger to go away.

Chocolate lovers live longer. Regularly eating chocolate can add a year to your life - a study proving this lasted more than 60 years.

“Fighting Amazons” in chocolate in Minsk

There is also a hypothesis according to which chocolate has an “anti-cancer” effect and can slow down the aging process.

Chocolate is good for the heart. People who regularly consume chocolate reduce their risk of heart disease by 37%.

Chocolate reduces the risk of heart attacks in men by 17% - scientists made this conclusion after an experiment in which men ate 63 grams of chocolate per week for 10 years.

Italian scientists have proven that people who eat a lot of chocolate are less likely to suffer from dementia in old age.

In addition to the beneficial effect on the body, as they say, from the inside, chocolate also has a unique effect on human skin, and therefore it is used in many beauty salons as rejuvenating masks and wraps.

Interesting Facts

The Aztecs came up with the recipe for making chocolate. They called it "food of the Gods." It came to Europe thanks to the Spanish conquistadors. They called it “black gold” and used it to improve health and increase stamina.
In Europe, until the 20th century, chocolate was considered a delicacy. It was available only to selected members of the aristocracy.
Chocolate is considered an aphrodisiac. It increases sexual energy.
The world's first monument to chocolate was erected in the city of Pokrov, Vladimir region, in 2009.
The most chocolate country in the world is Belgium. 170 thousand tons of this delicacy are produced here annually.
Scientists have found that dark varieties of chocolate can stimulate the synthesis of endorphins or “happiness hormones.” These substances affect the pleasure center in the brain, which improves mood and increases body tone.

Treats can be good for your health

Made from cocoa beans, chocolate is rich in valuable plant compounds that have antioxidant properties. Science has proven that they suppress oxidative stress in the body, reducing the risk of inflammatory processes. Sweet bars also contain a complex of minerals and healthy cocoa butter, which has the ability to normalize cholesterol levels in the blood and protect against vascular atherosclerosis.

But to get the maximum benefit from a treat, you need to choose it correctly. Neither milk nor white chocolate have any valuable properties. The healthiest champion is dark chocolate, with a cocoa content of at least 70%. You can consume it daily, but in moderation, no more than 50 grams, since the calorie content of the bars is high.

This holiday in other countries

As in Russia, World Chocolate Day takes place on July 11 in many countries around the world and has its own traditions.

In Germany, in the European Park, which is located 45 kilometers from Baden-Baden, the entire country of Chocolateland was built. On World Chocolate Day, festivals, exhibitions and attractions are held here, attracting tourists from all over Germany and Europe.

In Switzerland, on this day, a “chocolate” train is launched, which takes tourists to chocolate factories.

In Iceland there is a tradition of lighting ritual bonfires. This is how the descendants of the Vikings pay tribute to their favorite delicacy.

On September 13, a similar celebration takes place in Russia and many countries around the world - International Chocolate Day.

In the United States, there are several holidays dedicated to this delicacy. On October 28 and September 13, people in the United States celebrate National Chocolate Days. January 10th is Dark Chocolate Day. February 28th is Chocolate Soufflé Day, and May 2nd is Chocolate Mousse Day. June 22 is Chocolate Eclair Day. On October 18, chocolate cupcakes are celebrated.

US industry professionals stick to a different date

Representatives of the American Confectioners Association propose to celebrate the holiday on September 13. This date is associated with the birthday of American businessman, confectionery manufacturer and philanthropist Milton Hershey. Despite the validity of the initiative, it did not find support among confectionery industry professionals in other countries.

Federal News Agency /