National Choose Your Chocolate Day

National Choose Your Chocolate Day is dedicated to chocolate and the many ways people enjoy it, from truffles and candy bars to cakes, cookies, cocoa, and desserts. Celebrated annually on September 16, the holiday was created by See’s Candies to mark its centennial and honor the birthday of Mary See.

History of National Choose Your Chocolate Day

National Choose Your Chocolate Day was established by See’s Candies, a well-known American candy company founded in 1921. The holiday celebrates the company’s long history and the legacy of Mary See, whose recipes helped inspire the brand’s early success.

Chocolate itself has a much older history. Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used cacao beans to prepare bitter drinks for ceremonies, trade, and daily life. After cacao reached Europe in the 16th century, sugar and milk helped transform chocolate into the sweeter treat familiar today.

A major change came in 1828, when the cocoa press made it easier to process cacao and helped shape modern chocolate production. Since then, chocolate has become one of the world’s most popular sweets.

Interesting Facts About National Choose Your Chocolate Day

• Cacao beans were highly valued in ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
• Chocolate can be enjoyed in many forms, including bars, truffles, drinks, cakes, cookies, and sauces.
• Dark, milk, and white chocolate differ in their ingredients and cocoa content.
• Mary See’s recipes helped shape the early identity of See’s Candies.

How to Take Part in National Choose Your Chocolate Day

Celebrate National Choose Your Chocolate Day by choosing your favorite chocolate treat or trying something new. You can visit a candy shop, make homemade chocolate desserts, or share a box of chocolates with friends, family, or coworkers.

You can also host a chocolate tasting, compare different varieties, or enjoy chocolate-themed books and films such as Chocolat by Joanne Harris or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

When Is National Choose Your Chocolate Day in 2026?

National Choose Your Chocolate Day is observed annually on September 16.

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