December 13, 2021 - National Cocoa Day | National Violin Day

Welcome to December 13, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the convenience of cocoa and fancy fiddles. Thousands of years ago the process of making hot chocolate was long and tedious. Aztecs roasted the fruit of the cacao tree and ground it with water, chilies and even corn. They didn’t understand the health benefits, but they knew it packed a punch, and soldiers drank several cups before battle. The recipe changed over the years but the tradition carried on and hot cocoa was even given to troops during the Revolutionary War as medicine and wages. Thanks to a Dutch chemist who separated out the cocoa butter, the powder could be mixed for a handy, packable drink. On National Cocoa Day, celebrate this instant cold weather fix with some whipped cream or marshmallows. The violins and violas we play today are a legacy of Mongolian nomads. These horsemen from Inner Asia with their two string, upright instruments are considered to be the world’s first fiddlers. On the other end of the spectrum comes the gold standard of violins, the Stradivarius. Antonio Stradivari crafted about 1,100 stringed instruments during his lifetime. Today, they are rare and extremely valuable. In 2011, a Stradivarius nicknamed Lady Blunt was purchased for nearly $16 million. Another, nicknamed “the Messiah,” is so priceless that no one’s even allowed to play it. On National Violin Day, celebrate in grand style or bust out the fiddle and give a nod to the original. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices