There are many beverages and snacks that a person could consume to get through another day at the office. People can drink coffee or tea, snack on nuts or chips, or simply enjoy their tuna fish sandwiches while working at their desks.

However, there is one food item that people can enjoy at the office that is not only delicious but will also give them enough energy to get through their day. That one thing is, of course, chocolate.

This candy not only provides a quick hit of calories but also contains a little bit of caffeine as well. That makes it the perfect office snack, as emphasized by the holiday Office Chocolate Day — a day observed every October 20th.

The History of Office Chocolate Day

We’re going to be straight here. We simply couldn’t uncover the origin of this holiday. It was probably invented by someone who wanted to enjoy chocolate at work, or who simply brought a Hershey’s Bar to work and it dawned on them that there should be a holiday where a person can enjoy chocolate at the office.

However, there is something that we can do. We can go over the history of chocolate itself, so let’s do that right now. Chocolate began in Mesoamerica some 4,000 years ago. This is where the Olmec, one of the earliest civilizations in Latin America, were able to turn cacao into chocolate.

The Mayans and the Aztecs also enjoyed chocolate. The Mayans praised their liquid chocolate drink as the drink of the gods. This drink was made from roasted and ground cacao seeds that were mixed with cornmeal, water, and chilies. And the Aztecs liked cacao so much that they even used it as a form of currency.

Sometime during the 16th century, chocolate was brought from the Americas to Spain. Cacao was mixed with honey or sugar and served as a drink. Originally, it was a drink that was only intended for the wealthy and the clergy, but that changed over the centuries as chocolate became more accessible.

Observing Office Chocolate Day

Observing this holiday is as easy as bringing some chocolate to work, getting chocolate from the vending machine at work, or simply begging a coworker for their chocolate. People should also spread the word about this day using the hashtag #OfficeChocolateDay on social media. Let’s all celebrate chocolate, especially chocolate that’s enjoyed at work!