December 13, 2022 - National Violin Day | National Cocoa Day

Welcome to December 13, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate fancy fiddles and the convenience of cocoa. Antonio Stradivari crafted about 1,100 stringed instruments during his lifetime. Today, they are amongst the most rare and valuable but none more so than The Messiah. This violin built in 1716 has the quality of being nearly new, though perhaps it’s because no one is allowed to play it. Valued at over 20 million dollars, The Messiah was reportedly played in a London shop by Nathan Milstein in the 19th century. He described it as an unforgettable experience. Today the instrument resides in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford as a shining example for repairing other Strads. Though the jury is out on which instruments produce the sweetest sound, celebrate National Violin Day, with your own appreciation of the classics. 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 sometimes corn. The drink was prized for its effects and soldiers even drank several cups before battle. Though the recipe changed over the years, 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 Hot Cocoa Day, celebrate this cold weather fix with some whipped cream or marshmallows. 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