National Day of the Horse
December 13
National Day of the Horse pays tribute to an animal which has played such a vital role in the development of the United States including working, riding, transportation, enjoyment and racing. They came to the Americas with Spanish explorers.
There are currently around 60 million horses throughout the world. Horses, zebras, and asses (as well as other equids) belong to the Order Perissodactyla, which is Greek from “odd-numbered finger or toe. The earliest member of the horse family is the appropriately named “dawn horse,” or “Eohippus.” It dates back 55 million years.
National Cocoa Day
December 13
The ancient tribes of the Maya Indians were the first to discover the wonderful enchanting properties of the cocoa bean around the year 600 AD. Christopher Columbus, in 1502, was thought to have brought cocoa beans to King Ferdinand, during his fourth trip from the New World. Most of the world’s cocoa beans come from Africa. Cocoa was exported to Europe in 1585 but the first chocolate bar was not made until 1848. Throughout the world the annual cocoa production is 3 million tons. Every mature cocoa tree produces around 35 ounces of chocolate from its beans.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Taylor Swift – Singer – born in Reading, Pennsylvania
Jamie Foxx – Actor – born in Terrell, Texas
