December 13th History, Trivia, and Fun Facts |
December 13th History Highlights |
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December 13th is… |
National Cocoa Day National Day of the Horse Pick a Pathologist Pal Day National Violin Day |
National Cocoa Day |
Today is National Cocoa Day! The cacao tree can be traced back to the Amazon basin. It was first used by pre-Columbian societies for spiritual purposes, and then later on as currency. Cocoa is now enjoyed by many as a delicious treat. Here are some fun facts about cocoa: – The cacao tree was once known as the “Food of the Gods.” – Cocoa beans were used as currency in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. – Chocolate has health benefits, including antioxidants and minerals. Here are some fun facts about cocoa:
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December 13th Birthday Quotes |
“It’s often said that life is strange, but compared to what?” “Honestly I just wear what I like. You know why? ‘Cause I can, I’m a rock star.” “You’ve got the whole thing on the tree upside-down. The electric pluggee thing should be down here at the bottom, not up at the top…” “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” “Tolerance, openness, and understanding towards other peoples’ cultures, social structures, values, and faiths are now essential to the very survival of an interdependent world.” “I love tiny, plastic realistic food magnets. I don’t know why. They’re hilarious.” |
December 13th Birthdays |
1797 – Heinrich Heine, German poet (died in 1797) 1818 – Mary Todd Lincoln, 16th First Lady of the United States (died in 1882) 1908 – Van Heflin, American actor (died in 1971) 1925 – Dick Van Dyke, American actor, singer, and dancer 1929 – Christopher Plummer, Canadian actor 1934 – Richard D. Zanuck, American film producer (died in 2012) 1936 – Aga Khan IV, Muslim spiritual leader 1941 – John Davidson, American actor, and game show host 1948 – Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter, American guitarist, 1948 – Ted Nugent, American singer-songwriter 1950 – Wendy Malick, American actress 1952 – Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter), American football player and wrestler (died in 1998) 1954 – Steve Forbert, American singer-songwriter 1967 – Jamie Foxx, American actor, and comedian 1981 – Amy Lee (Amy Lynn Hartzler), American singer-songwriter 1989 – Taylor Swift, American singer-songwriter |
December 13th History |
115 (Earthquake) Antioch, Byzantine Empire (Turkey) 1545 – The Council of Trent began; it was the planning of responding to the Protestant Movement, by the Catholic Church. 1636 – The Massachusetts Bay Colony organized militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians. It is considered the founding of the United States National Guard. 1769 – Dartmouth College was founded by Reverend Eleazar Wheelock. 1920 – League of Nations established the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 1928 – The clip-on tie was invented on December 13, 1928, in Clinton, Iowa 1928 – George Gershwin’s An American In Paris premiered in Carnegie Hall, with Walter Damrosch conducting the New York Philharmonic. 1947 – Maine Turnpike (I-95) opened. 1962 – Relay I, the first U.S. communications satellite was launched. 1968 – Science magazine published the essay ‘Tragedy of the Commons’, by Garrett Hardin. 1985 – The Jewel of the Nile, A Chorus Line, and Clue debuted in theaters. 1986 – #1 Hit December 13, 1986 – December 19, 1986: Bruce Hornsby & the Range – The Way It Is 1996 – Jerry Maguire, Mars Attacks! and The Preacher’s Wife were released in theaters. 2000 – Al Gore conceded the presidential election to George W. Bush. A later investigation, counting the pivotal Florida votes, indicated that Bush did win the election, by a few hundred votes. 2002 – Star Trek: Nemesis debuted in theaters. 2003 – #1 Hit December 13, 2003 – February 13, 2004: Outkast – Hey Ya! 2003 – Saddam Hussein was captured near his hometown of Tikrit, Iraq. 2009 – #1 Hit December 13, 2008 – January 16, 2009: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) 2013 – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, American Hustle, Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas, and Saving Mr. Banks were released in theaters. |
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts |
There will be no Christmas pageant in Washington, DC this year… Apparently, they could not find three wise men. The most points scored in an NBA game is 186 by the Detroit Pistons against the Denver Nuggets. The second most is 184 by the Denver Nuggets, in the same game, on Dec 13, 1983. “We rob banks.” – Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) in Bonnie and Clyde, 1967 Old Man Henderson, a Character with origins from 4chan, was the only person ever to ‘Win’ Call of Cthulu. The Guinness World Record for “most prolific cannibal” is held by a 19th-century Fijian chief called Ratu Udre Udre, who ate between 872 and 999 people. “I miss the person that you were, but I don’t miss you.” #songlyrics “STOP! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he sees.” – The Bridgekeeper #moviequotes Ghosts act a little like quantum mechanics. They always disappear when they are intentionally being observed. #science US President #39 Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) Jimmy was the only President since 1909 who didn’t throw out the first pitch to open the baseball season. In most European countries, most of Asia and Oceania, the week starts on Monday. In North America, Japan, Israel, South Africa, and most of Latin America, it starts on Sunday. The Capital of Austria is Vienna Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues #11 – Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. Out of all the Disney princesses, Mulan is the only one who has ever killed a man. In the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, Lichtenstein sent a force of 80 men to fight. This force, which saw no action by war’s end, returned unscathed with 81 men, as an Italian soldier decided to come home with them. |
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