Food Calendars Keep Ancient Festivals Alive in the Kitchen

It has been said that everyday is a food holiday somewhere in the world. Judging by the number of annual food calendars posted on the Internet I would have to agree. Many of the food holidays celebrated in the US such as National Ice Cream Month, National Egg Salad Week, and National Pomegranate Month are most likely the result of clever PR Departments seeking gimmicks to promote their company’s products.

Image via Wikipedia

My first encounter with food calendars occurred back in 1991 when my children were 4- and 5-years old. I had read on the Internet that Big Bird would be celebrating his sixth birthday on March 20th. I immediately thought of how much fun it would be to hold a Birthday Party for the giant yellow bird that my children sat and watched on the television at 9 a.m. most mornings. Hearing their giggles and watching the joy on their precious faces as they sang Happy Birthday to their television buddy resulted in additional Birthday parties held at our kitchen table for other Muppet characters until they outgrew Sesame Street.

Recognizing that a new game plan was needed, I returned to the Internet and searched for other ways we could continue our “unique” yearly celebrations. As luck would have it I found my first Food Calendar in the food forum on CompuServe. Sesame Street Birthday parties were soon replaced with Hamburger Day, Boston Crème Pie Day and National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. When, after a few years, my children once again showed signs of boredom I returned to the Internet determined to keep these unique, and sometimes bizarre, holidays a part of our lives.

Lo and behold I found yet another set of food-related holidays existing beyond our front door. Our modest kitchen was soon hosting festive meals featuring cuisines from around the world. With 195 countries situated on the planet our celebrations could and would continue for a many years to come. 

Having German ancestors, I often planned special dinners, featuring authentic dishes, to be served during traditional German holidays like May Day, which will be celebrated this year on Sunday, May 1st. Having been declared a public holiday in 1919 by the National Assembly of Weimar, May Day, called Tag der Arbeit, is Germany’s version of America’s Labor Day. However, long before being a public holiday when public speeches and parades are held May Day was a festive occasion held throughout Germany as a celebration welcoming the arrival of Spring.

Dating back to pagan times, Germany’s May Day is probably best known for its Maypole customs. The Maypole, according to Wikipedia, is a tradition that goes back to the 16th century. Young people of the village work together to select and cut down the tree, to transport and to decorate it. During the preparation it is necessary to guard the maypole because young people from other villages may try to steal it. The setting up of the maypole is a big feast for the whole community.