World Chocolate Day is rightfully considered the most delicious and sweetest holiday - a favorite event of all gourmets and sweet tooth. Millions of connoisseurs of the most popular dessert in the world attend fairs and festivals, master classes and tastings, enjoy chocolate prizes and treats! How can you miss such a sweet occasion for fun?

Do you know on what date the inhabitants of the Earth eat more chocolate than in the entire past year? It's amazing, but one of the youngest holidays is one of the most famous and loved by the whole world! For the first time chocolate was celebrated in France - passionate in everything, the French found this divine dessert worthy of a special day as recently as 1995. The first Chocolate Day was celebrated on July 11, but why this particular date was chosen is unknown. In 1996, almost all of Europe and the USA joined the celebration. The Americans liked the idea so much that today in the States they also celebrate two national holidays dedicated to chocolate - October 28 and July 7. In Russia and the countries of the former USSR, chocolate day is celebrated according to the international calendar - July 11th.

Traditionally, Chocolate Day is a holiday of open doors for all major confectionery factories in the world. Children and adults can see with their own eyes how powder, milk and delicious additions, from crispy waffles to roasted nuts and dried berries, are made into chocolate bars. Guests can not only try a variety of cocoa desserts, but also take part in their preparation!

There are three large chocolate museums in Russia - in both capitals and in Pokrov, where they even erected a monument to a sweet bar. In these cities, Chocolate Day is celebrated especially cheerfully and on a large scale. Thousands of people who want to taste rare and unusual varieties of their favorite treats gather at the fairs, competitions and master classes are held for children. Fashion shows in chocolate colors, chocolate wellness and spa treatments, chocolate parties - there are many ways to celebrate the sweetest day!

On average, an adult Russian eats about 5 kg of chocolate per year. A lot of? Not at all! In the US, the annual “norm” has recently exceeded 13 kg, and in Switzerland it has almost reached 20 kg!

In 2014, a chocolate festival was held in Ukraine - a traditional fair, performances by sculptors and chocolatiers, a confectioners' championship. Children assembled a train from chocolate trailers, which then set off on a journey through a chocolate country full of sweet houses, plants and animals. Adults admired the chocolate sights of the country, made with amazing accuracy!

History of chocolate

The Mayans and Aztecs believed that chocolate was a gift and food of the gods. Theobroma, the scientific name for cocoa, literally translates to "divine food". The first kakawa plantations appeared in the 6th century on the territory of modern Mexico. The Mayan Indians prepared a sacred drink from beans, believed in its strengthening and healing power, and prayed to the god of cocoa. The Aztecs, who conquered the Mayan territories, adopted the beliefs of their predecessors. The legendary Montezuma fell in love with the tart bitter drink so much that he drank fifty cups a day!

With the arrival of Cortes in the lands of the Indians, the drink of the gods received a new "nickname". The Spaniards came up with the idea of adding sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to liquid chocolate, giving the drink a more interesting and less bitter taste. Noble persons from friendly countries came to Spain only to taste a cup of "black gold"! For more than half a century, the Spaniards kept the secret of making a chocolate drink, but smugglers managed to transfer the recipe to Italy, from where it then ended up in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. A certain contribution to the popularization of the novelty was made by Anna of Austria. Having become the wife of the French king, she brought with her to France a personal chocolatier and several boxes of cocoa beans. Louis VIII really liked the drink and the Parisian society liked it, becoming more popular than tea and coffee! But chocolate was still not available to ordinary people because of the fabulous price of cocoa beans.

Not surprisingly, it was the French who came up with the idea to celebrate International Chocolate Day. This country was not the first in Europe where cocoa dessert became famous. And the largest "chocolate" discoveries were also made not in France. But it was from here that chocolate spread throughout Europe, and the French love for the drink of the gods was truly legendary - by the middle of the 18th century there were more than 500 cafes in Paris alone, the menu of which included only chocolate!

At the beginning of the 18th century, the British came up with the idea of adding ... milk to chocolate! Today this combination does not surprise anyone, but in those years it was a real revolution in taste! The chocolatier of Louis XVI, like the ancient Mayans, considered the drink to be healing and added medicinal herbs, essential oils and flower petals to it. Having learned about a new remedy for recovering from severe debilitating ailments, chocolate began to be brewed in Belgium. But not confectioners, but pharmacists!

Before the invention of a method for obtaining butter from cocoa beans, chocolate was consumed in the form of various drinks and liquid desserts. The first hard chocolate bar was produced in England in the middle of the 19th century. In 1875, the Swiss invented milk chocolate, and only in 1930 did white chocolate appear. In the USSR, this delicacy was long associated with the bourgeoisie - ordinary people could not afford chocolate. Domestic production was established by the merchant Abrikosov. His factory produced collection sets with portraits of artists, sweets in cheerful wrappers with birds and animals. He came up with chocolate bunnies and Santa Clauses, caramels "Duck noses", "Crayfish necks" and "Crow's feet". In 1965, the first “folk” chocolate bar, accessible to the masses, appeared on the shelves - the famous “Alenka”. Today it is produced by 15 confectionery factories, incl. in Ukraine (Olenka) and in Belarus (Beloved Alenka).

Interesting Facts:

1000 BC people already knew how to use cocoa beans. But then, not a dessert was prepared from them, but a low-alcohol drink;

from the time of the Aztecs to this day, chocolate has been considered a powerful aphrodisiac;

eminent chocolatiers can distinguish 400 cocoa flavors;

thanks to the phenamine in the composition, the chocolate taste causes a feeling in the brain similar to the feeling of falling in love. Perhaps this is the secret of the incredible popularity of the dessert;

For the year humanity spends about $ 20 billion on chocolate, eating a little more than 600,000 tons of bars and sweets annually. The world's most expensive chocolate costs $2,600 for a pound of dessert! The Fritz Knipschildt recipe is kept secret, although you can’t tell it from a regular truffle in the photo:

The tastiest and best chocolate comes from Belgium. For the past quarter century, the Belgian company Godiva has won first place in all world competitions related to the production of chocolate;

Chicago produces the strangest chocolate. Hot pepper, ancho, mushroom and bacon flavored treats! Yes, yes, chocolate-covered bacon was not invented by Ukrainians at all;

when chocolate day is celebrated, in most European countries this dessert is bought in larger quantities than on any other day. But in the US, most chocolate is sold on Valentine's Day. In Russia, the chocolate boom happens on New Year's Eve;

in most languages of the world there is a phrase similar to the Russian “everything is in chocolate” and invariably meaning that everything is just fine with a person;

at the annual food festival in Italy (2008), a chocolate copy of Big Ben weighing 8 tons was installed! In 2011, Chicago confectioners made the largest chocolate bar, breaking the previous world record. The weight of the giant delicacy was 5.6 kg, the length was 6.5 m, and the height was 90 cm. In the photo, there is a sweet record holder and enthusiastic spectators who are clearly dreaming of tasting a piece of history:

How to celebrate Chocolate Day?

According to American traditions, it is supposed to arrange a noisy cocoa party: sweets, cookies, mousses and puddings, cream and fruit desserts with chocolate, chocolate fountains - a real treat for the sweet tooth! Girls who take care of their figure will surely like a chocolate massage, body wrap or bath. It will be interesting for children to look for the treasure of the Aztecs - chocolate coins in shiny gold foil! In China, Japan and other eastern countries, where they celebrate the sweetest day of the year, desserts of wonderful colors are produced - bright pink, light green, blue and orange tiles and sweets. You can surprise your friends by giving a box of such treats as a gift by dipping ordinary candies in multi-colored icing.

And, of course, do not forget to convey sweet congratulations on Chocolate Day to all your loved ones! You can make a chocolate cake or assemble a pyramid from individual tiles, make an inscription on a chocolate bar with icing, or pack sweets in papers with wishes. You can take your family and friends to a chocolate museum or a master class to learn how to make real hot chocolate or delicious chocolate pudding.

Now it is simply strange to imagine a time when there was no chocolate and when it was available only to a very few. Nowadays, poems are dedicated to this delicacy, films are made about it. And even a holiday dedicated to chocolate has recently existed, this is World Chocolate Day.

And although it is completely new, it immediately and firmly won recognition from everyone - after all, it is the most delicious and cheerful.

Oh what a wonderful sweet day!
We celebrate it all over the world.
And now no one is too lazy to celebrate it,
Our entire apartment is covered in chocolate!

This delicacy wants to get into our mouths
And melt there smoothly and gently.
Today, friends, we will enjoy it to our heart's content,
We celebrate the holiday diligently.

World Chocolate Day has arrived.
For a whole year we desperately waited,
When will we feel so good from the heart.
And now we are all happy.

After all, it has been proven to everyone that any chocolate
Raises the mood.
Everyone who ate it will be cheerful and happy,
And there will be beautiful singing!

A bit of history

In the mid-90s, the people of France came up with this holiday. It began to be celebrated on July 11, it is believed that it was on this day that the conquistadors brought it to Europe in the middle of the 16th century. In those days, it was valued more than gold, it was known only as a drink that supports youth.

A drink made from cocoa beans was known to the Aztecs and the Mayan Indians, they called it “the food of the gods”, and the tree itself had a personal deity to whom people prayed - it was so highly valued and revered.

It was considered the only means capable of rekindling the fire of passion, the doctors of the royal families prescribed a chocolate drink to noble ladies who fell into depression. Only in the middle of the 19th century did they learn how to make dark chocolate bars, and two decades later they managed to make milk chocolate. Chocolate still remained inaccessible to many delicacy, only in the second decade of the 20th century did it become available to everyone.

The people liked the holiday, and the very next year it was supported in Germany, and a year later they began to celebrate throughout Europe and both Americas, and soon Russia joined it. In the United States, the holiday came so to the court that it is celebrated twice a year - on July 7 and October 28. In Russia, it takes place according to the international calendar - July 11. So the French initiative grew into World Chocolate Day.

On this day, chocolate is often eaten twice as much as on any other day of the year, because it is believed that chocolate has special properties during the holiday. And this is not self-deception, because chocolate itself contains endorphins, which are also called the "hormone of happiness." This means that even a small piece of chocolate can improve the mood of most people on the planet, relieve depression and improve overall well-being. Chocolate Day will also be celebrated in 2017. After all, July 11 is the crown of summer, the warmest time of the year.

What is chocolate

In addition to a large number of various sweets, chocolate can be of three types, depending on the number of cocoa beans in it - bitter, black and milk. There are also white chocolate bars, in which cocoa powder is completely absent.

Most cocoa beans are in dark chocolate, there are varieties where it is about 80%, and it is he who ultimately allows you to feel completely satisfied and calm. And the most popular, tender and delicious is milk.

But at the chocolate festival you can enjoy any variety, please your loved ones with exquisite chocolate souvenirs and even admire the chocolate fountain. On this day, any miracles are possible.

Let's celebrate!

Where to go on International Chocolate Day to get the most out of the holiday?

Go to a chocolate factory

On World Chocolate Day, factories organize an open day for everyone. On this day, festivals and fairs are held there, for which craftsmen make special souvenirs. Tours and master classes are held at these factories, you can see how the tiles of this delicacy are made, and at the master class you can make sweets by hand according to your own desire. Win-win competitions and quizzes are held for children, the prizes in which, of course, will be chocolates.

Treat yourself with chocolate

To make the skin soft and silky, smooth, why not make chocolate wraps, massage or cosmetic mask with chocolate. After all, it has so many useful substances, and the rich aroma of cocoa remarkably cheers up.

Go to a hot show

On World Chocolate Day, celebrations are organized in many places. The most important thing on them will be an abundance of chocolate delicacies, but the most surprising thing is a large chocolate fountain created from melted chocolate - you can eat it directly with spoons, or dip fruits and sweets into it.

And now every country and every city is trying to surprise visitors with unusual combinations of products with chocolate and their own way to celebrate this day.

Since the mid-90s, Lviv began to produce a comic candy "Salo in Chocolate" - in which a really small piece of bacon is filled with a layer of dark chocolate. It may seem surprising, but the candy is actually very tasty, now it is made in all cities of Ukraine where there is a Lviv Chocolate Workshop.
The Japanese produce sweet desserts of the most unusual colors, with aromas of flowers, in the most delicate glaze.
Americans prefer to have chocolate parties, which they invite their whole family to.
And in Switzerland, on chocolate day, a special public transport route is laid through the city, during which you will be told about Swiss chocolate, a chocolate tasting with cognac will be arranged, and children will be given a particularly delicious milk chocolate or chocolate drink.

Organize a friendly chocolate party

You can celebrate World Chocolate Day with friends by having a fun party. It will be interesting for everyone to participate in the competition for the best chocolate body art. It is enough just to prepare a lot of chocolate icing and a brush. Participants paint themselves or friends, and then a fashion show is held. A popular vote will determine the winner, who will receive a prize as a reward.

Glaze: 5 tbsp. l. cocoa powder, 3 tbsp. l. milk, 0.5 cups of butter and 3 tbsp. l. butter are mixed and brought to a boil. Then the mass must be thoroughly mixed so that lumps do not form, and cool. The body art icing is ready! These ingredients will make about 1 cup of chocolate paint. Increase the proportions at your discretion, based on the number of participants.
It is appropriate to hold such a competition on the beach or near the home pool, so that it would be easier for participants to put themselves in order.

And you can also arrange a disco with "chocolate songs":

Tootsie and the KGB "Bitter Chocolate"
Gone with the Wind Cocoa
Linda "Chocolate and Tear"
Abraham Russo "Chocolate Chiquita"
Volodya Ulyanov "Mulatto-Chocolate"
Mr. Malay "Chocolate"
Dzham - Chocolate
White Chocolate - White Chocolate
Inna Malikova - Coffee and Chocolate
Lyubov Uspenskaya - Bitter Chocolate
Mint - Chocolate Mousse
Ana Laan
Captain Shock
Corey Gibbons - Chocolate Loving (Club Vocal Mix)
Kylie Minogue

In the evening, you can organize a joint viewing of films on a chocolate theme:

"Marshmallow in chocolate" (1994)
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)
"Strawberry and Chocolate" (1993)
"Chocolate" (2000)

You can show your imagination using your ideas. The main thing is to be sweet and fun!

The birthplace of the oldest drink, according to legend, 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 was first celebrated in 1995.

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

How they celebrate

Special events are held in each country - exhibitions, fairs, master classes and tastings are dedicated to chocolate, various competitions, including those for eating more sweet delicacy, which pleases both children and adults on this day.

Mass festive events, as a rule, are arranged 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 chic chocolate menu and serve chocolate surprises.

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

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

Russians also celebrate World Chocolate Day in Pokrov, where the only monument in the world, the Bronze Fairy, has been erected to the favorite delicacy of children and adults. The three-meter statue flaunts next to the Pokrovsky Chocolate Museum, which is full of tourists on holidays.

At the festival, the traditional occupation, 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.

A 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, Dublin.

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

On this day, it is customary to congratulate your friends confectioners, artists who develop chocolate wrappers, sweet tooth 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 the Olmec Indians, who once lived on the territory of modern Mexico.

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

A pot of flowers made of chocolateIn the 12th-14th 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 used to make a drink, as well as a bargaining chip.

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

And they served chocolatl in golden 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 strengthens strength, but also contributes to the rapid healing of wounds.

The work of the confectionery factory 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 the elite could afford the divine drink in Spain, that is, those who were able to pay for chocolate.

France learned the taste of chocolate in 1615, thanks to the marriage concluded between Louis XIII with the Spanish Infanta Anna of Austria. A fashionable drink, which was drunk in all aristocratic houses and expensive coffee houses, 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 bar of solid chocolate was created by the Swiss Francois Louis Caille in 1819.

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

About the benefits of chocolate

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

Studies have shown that dark chocolate is much healthier than milk, white and other varieties.

The model demonstrates a dress made of chocolateDark 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.

Studies have also found that dark chocolate helps improve vision in countries with poor weather conditions, and helps lower blood pressure, which is good 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 to make hunger disappear.

Chocolate lovers live longer. Eating chocolate regularly can add a year to life - a study proving this has been going on for more than 60 years.

"Fights of the Amazons" in chocolate in Minsk There is also a hypothesis according to which chocolate has an "anti-cancer" effect and is able to slow down the aging process.

Chocolate is good for the heart. People who regularly consume chocolate have a 37% lower risk of heart disease.

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 a beneficial effect on the body, as they say, from the inside, chocolate has a unique effect on human skin, and therefore it is used in many beauty salons as anti-aging masks and body wraps.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

Real sweet tooth will always find a reason to eatfavorite sweets. But there is a special day when chocolate becomes the center of everyone's attention and you can eat it by the sea without worrying about extra calories.

This day is not everyone's favorite New Year or their own birthday. The sweetest, most delicious, most favorite holiday of the sweet tooth has become Chocolate Day, which is celebrated around the world on July 11.

#When World Chocolate Day is celebrated: the history of the holiday

The celebration dedicated to chocolate is quite young. It appeared quite recently - in 1995.
The initiators of the chocolate day were French people who are rightfully considered chocolate connoisseurs.

But there is no explanation for the choice of the date for celebrating World Chocolate Day.
Probably, summer, warm weather, which is important for growing chocolate trees, played a role in choosing the date.

A year later, lovers of the divine dessert from Europe and America joined the French.

And the Americans liked the sweet idea so much that they now honor chocolate on October 28 and July 7 as well.

Chocolate Day in Russia and other post-Soviet countries is also celebrated on July 11 in accordance with the international calendar.

#History of chocolate

Why did chocolate become a universal, almost worldwide favorite, to such an extent that its admirers came up with an original holiday Chocolate Day.

The ancient delicacy has earned attention not only due to its taste, but also due to its centuries-old history.

The first chocolate desserts appeared several millennia ago and were served in the form of drinks.

Such a treat was called the "food of the gods" and was invented by the Maya Indians, the Aztecs.

Cooking " divine drink» from the beans of the cocoa tree, which grows only near the equator. The hot and humid climate of Ghana, Brazil, Malaysia is the most suitable for growing cocoa trees. The botanical name sounds like Theobroma cacao, which translates from Greek as God(theos)and food(broma). So not only the Indians of the ancient tribes of the Aztecs and Mayans called chocolate "divine food".

Plantations of cocoa trees appeared in the VI century. The Maya Indians, living in the territories of modern Mexico, considered the plant sacred, and the drink made from its beans was medicinal.

They not only revered cocoa, but also prayed to its god, believing in a strengthening and miraculous power.

Later, the Mayan beliefs were adopted by the Aztecs, who conquered these lands.
For their leader Montezuma, the drink became so beloved that he could drink up to fifty cups of bitter delicacy in a day.

Columbus, who was treated to chocolate by the Indians in 1502 as a sign of hospitality, became the first European to taste an unusual delicacy. But the bitterness of the drink did not suit his taste, and he refused the treat.

Chocolate was appreciated by Cortes, who landed on the shores of Mexico in 1519.
To soften the bitterness, white guests began to add cane sugar to the drink.

Delivering beans to Europe, the Spaniards came up with improved recipes for chocolate with the addition of cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg. The drink got a new name black gold».

Such a nickname was associated not only with taste.

The price of a cup of chocolate drink was really fabulous.
Only noble persons could taste it, who purposefully visited Spain for this.
The recipe was kept secret for a long time.

But the Spaniards could not save the recipe for "Black Gold".

Thanks to smugglers, it gets to Italy by the end of the 16th century, and from there to other European countries.

Anna of Austria played a significant role in the prevalence of chocolate, who, having arrived in France as the wife of Louis XIII, brought with her several boxes of unusual beans.
Her personal chocolatier brewed an amazing drink, which was appreciated not only by the king of France, but also by the courtiers.

The popularity of the drink quickly reached incredible heights, ahead of the French love for tea and coffee.

It was in France that flocks of specialized chocolate cafes were opened, of which there were more than 500 by the middle of the 18th century. But the drink remained the prerogative of the rich and noble for a long time.

Chocolate was considered not only a delicious delicacy, but also healing. Chocolatiers came up with their own unique recipes, and for Louis XVI, the chocolate master prepared a drink with the addition of medicinal herbs, flower petals, and essential oils.

The British were the first to come up with the idea of adding milk to chocolate in the 18th century. It was a real revolutionary breakthrough among confectioners.

But in Belgium, pharmacists began to brew chocolate as a healing potion. Until the middle of the 19th century, chocolate dessert was prepared only in liquid form.

The British, after inventing a way to extract oil from beans, introduced the world to the first bar of chocolate.

Milk chocolate began to be prepared in Switzerland only in 1875. But these delicacies remained inaccessible to the common people. Only in 1930 the world saw white chocolate.

The delicacy has long been associated with bourgeois remnants, which was explained by its high cost.

The domestic pioneer is the merchant Abrikosov, who was able to create the production of chocolate.

His factory produced funny candies in colorful wrappers and collectible sets. He owns the idea of chocolate Santa Clauses and hares, as well as the recipe for "Duck noses" and "Goose feet", "Cancer necks".

Folk delicacy appeared only in 1965, when they launched the production of chocolate on an industrial scale.

The famous "Alenka" has become a national chocolate, which has not lost its popularity even today.

It is produced by many confectionery factories, but the name has practically remained the original. In Ukraine you can meet "Olenka", and in Belarus "Beloved Alenka".

Today, chocolate is the collective name for confectionery made from cocoa products and sugar.

The recipes use many different ingredients in the form of whole or chopped nuts, milk powder, cream, fruits, raisins, and other confectionery additives.

On Chocolate Day, many factories hold an open day.
This is a great opportunity to see with your own eyes how cocoa powder, milk and delicious additives turn into a favorite delicacy in the most bizarre forms.

Factories arrange not only tastings, but also allow guests to participate in the process of preparing desserts.

In Russia, three museums have been opened in honor of chocolate, which are located in the capitals and in the city of Pokrov. There is also a monument to a chocolate bar - "Bronze Fairy", and in 2009 the largest celebration was held.

The celebration of chocolate in large and not very cities is trying to be held on a large scale.
In honor of the favorite delicacy, unusual and exciting events are organized.

Fairs are organized where you can buy unusual treats or show people your desserts.

And in Ukraine in 2014, a chocolate festival was held, where, in addition to the traditional fair and performances by chocolatiers and sculptors, a confectioners' championship was held.

An unusual entertainment was invented for the kids, which made it possible to assemble a steam locomotive from chocolate wagons, which went on a journey through a real chocolate country.

In Switzerland, in honor of the holiday, you can ride a chocolate train. During an unusual journey, you can learn the history of Swiss chocolate.

In all coffee houses of the world on this day, the menu always contains chocolate treats, and even small surprises for visitors.

#Happy Birthday chocolate: how to spend your chocolate day?

The opinion about chocolate as a “sweet drug” is not unreasonable, because chocolate is really addictive and addictive.

Chocolate contains antioxidants that can fight aging and resist cancer.

Chocolate can reduce pain.

Everyone knows the ability of dark chocolate to stimulate the synthesis of endorphins.
Happiness hormones act on the pleasure centers, improving mood and psychological state.

Of course, no one has come up with a workable chocolate diet yet.

The delicacy is rich in fats, which undoubtedly affects its calorie content.
But knowing the measure, you can enjoy healthy and tasty chocolate with pleasure, without worrying about the consequences on the sides.

And on chocolate day, giving up your favorite treat is just silly.

There are many ideas on how to spend a chocolate holiday.

The most common option is chocolate party or party.

Invite friends with a sweet tooth or organize a holiday for children.

Of course, sweets, cakes, drinks, desserts will serve as treats.

Chocolate must be present everywhere. Make a chocolate fountain or chocolate fondue the centerpiece of the celebration.

Do not forget to congratulate friends and relatives whose professional activities are related to the production of the famous delicacy on Chocolate Day.

Yes, and just to friends, children, beloved girlfriend, it would be useful to give small chocolate presents.

#Interesting facts related to chocolate

In today's article, you will learn:

When is World Chocolate Day celebrated?
History of Chocolate Day
interesting facts about chocolate

When is World Chocolate Day celebrated?

As for the history of the origin of chocolate, this "food of the gods", as it used to be called, has more than three millennia. As early as 1500 BC, on the territory of modern Mexico, the Olmec civilization was born, in whose language the word "kakawa" appeared. This word they called a drink made from crushed cocoa beans diluted with cold water. Their recipe was later inherited by the Maya, from whose language "chocoatl" (chocolate) is translated as "bitter water". This drink was a rather viscous and bitter drink, it was prepared with hot spices, odorous herbs and cornmeal. Europeans learned about chocolate thanks to Columbus, but only 20 years later they really tasted chocolate, and since then it has spread throughout Europe. Answering the question, when is Chocolate Day in 2016, we answer: in our time, every year On July 11, sweet lovers celebrate World Chocolate Day..

History of Chocolate Day

We note right away that the history of the Chocolate Day holiday is very similar to other stories, when people celebrate the day of the product, thing, process that they love. The idea to arrange celebrations dedicated to the noble food product arose among the inhabitants of France in the mid-90s. XX century. At that time, the Chocolate Day holiday was a purely national holiday, but, seeing the interest in the product and the popularity of the holiday among the residents, foreign countries decided to adopt an interesting tradition. And now the whole world is celebrating International Chocolate Day. True, we note that the July World Chocolate Day is not the only one of its kind - exactly the same is also celebrated in September, the 4th. Apparently, fans of this sweetness decided to stretch the pleasure and portions of the food eaten twice.

World Chocolate Day: a holiday for children

World Chocolate Day is a holiday for children, which they are waiting for almost like Santa Claus or Santa Claus, as they are always in anticipation of delicious gifts with an alluring sweet smell. Previously, we published original and proven and which can be given to children. We recommend not to be lazy and cook something chocolate and tasty with your own hands, so that the kid will remember Chocolate Day with extravaganza of taste. From such moments, pleasant upbringings about childhood are formed.

International Chocolate Day: interesting facts about chocolate

Also on this festive Day of Chocolate, we decided to collect some interesting facts about chocolate that you may not have known.

Chocolate has an "anti-cancer" effect and can slow down the aging process.
Chocolate contains elements that promote relaxation and psychological recovery
Chocolate cures cough and is a powerful aphrodisiac.
In the Mayan tribe, cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made, were the currency.
Seven billion dollars a year people spend on chocolate

Have a nice holiday!