Spotted on a t-shirt: "Chocolate - It's Not Just For Breakfast Any More."
Humankind's centuries-long love affair with the so-called "food of the gods" is documented in "The True History of Chocolate," a new book by Michael D. Coe, the Charles J. McCurdy Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, and his late wife, Sophie D. Coe.
A booksigning party in celebration of "The True History of Chocolate" will be held 1:30-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, where Professor Coe served for years as curator of the anthropological collections.
The book, which was published by Thames and Hudson, traces the human fascination with chocolate, beginning with the discovery of the bitter seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree 3,000 years ago in the jungles of Mexico and Central America. It describes how an unsweetened form of the substance was used as currency by the Maya and Aztecs, how chocolate became a popular drink among the aristocracy after its introduction to Europe, and how the Industrial Revolution helped popularize its use and consumption among the masses.
In honor of the book's publication, special chocolates engraved with the name of the Peabody Museum have been commissioned and will be served at the booksigning celebration.
Also this month, the Peabody Museum will present "Midseason in Santa Fe: A Family Celebration of Holiday Traditions in New Mexico" on Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:30-4 p.m. This event will feature family-oriented activities designed to teach participants about how the city celebrates Christmas with a unique blend of Spanish, Native American and Anglo cultural traditions.
Both events are free with museum admission.
The Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave., is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed Dec. 24, 25 and 31, and Jan. 1. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 3-15 and seniors over age 65. Members of the Yale community with I.D. and Peabody Friends are admitted free of charge. For information, call the InfoTape at 432-5050.