The 24th of August is St Bartholomew’s Day. St Bartholomew’s Day is traditionally celebrated by eating watermelon. The association stems from a watermelon festival that used to be held in front of his basilica in Rome on his feast day.
Calendar
St Bibiana’s Day
The 2nd of December is St Bibiana’s Day. Bibiana, as in ‘to imbibe’, has become the Patron Saint of Drunks and Hangovers — even if accidentally.
St Brigid’s Day
The 1st of February is St Brigid’s Day. St Brigid is the patron saint of dairy in Ireland. Fresh butter would be churned, and some set on a window sill for her.
St Catherine’s Day
The 25th of November is St Catherine’s Day. It’s traditionally celebrated with taffy.
St Columba’s Day
The 9th of June is St Columba’s Day. Among St Columba’s food dealings were changing water into wine, causing water to come out of a rock, making a herd of cows increase miraculously, and exorcising a demon from a pail of milk.
St David’s Day
The 1st of March is St David’s Day. Today is much more though than a celebration of St David; it’s a celebration of Welsh culture, heritage, identity and survival.
St Dwynwen’s Day
The 25th of January is St Dwynwen’s Day. Some call it the “Welsh Valentine’s Day”, but instead of chocolate, carved wooden lovespoons are given.
St Gallus Day
The 16th of October is the feast day of St Gallus. It was used as a marker in the agricultural calendar: apples and plant seeds should be stored by now, after today cows stay indoors, and today people start smoking hams.
St George’s Day
St George is the Patron saint of England. St George’s mushrooms start to appear on this day in England.
St Honoré’s Day
St Honoré’s day is the 16th of May. He is the patron saint of bakers. He is also the patron saint of confectioners, pastry chefs, flour sellers, and candlemakers.
St Joseph’s Day
The 19th of March is St Joseph’s Day. For those observing, it is a day of great feasting. A special display table of food is assembled to honour the saint.
St Lucy’s Day
In Sweden, the 13th of December is called “Luciadagen.” It marks the start of Christmas celebrations in Sweden, and the start of a festival of lights.
St Macarius’s Day
The 2nd of January is the Feast Day of St Macarius of Alexandria, who has been dubbed St Macaroon, owing to his name and his association with pastry chefs.
St Martha’s Day
Today is St Martha’s Day. She is the Patron Saint of Cooks. Irma Rombauer chose St Martha for the cover of the first edition of her book “The Joy of Cooking.”
St Milburga’s Day
The 23rd of February is St Milburga’s Day. She caused water to spring out of a rock, and a farmer’s barley harvest to grow all in one day. Simnel cakes were given out as treats on her day.
St Nicholas Day
In the Netherlands, St Nicholas goes house to house in the early hours of the 6th of December, leaving gifts in children’s shoes. In return, they leave hay and carrots for his horse.
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate all things Irish. It is a major food and drink day.
St Peter’s Day
The 29th of June is St Peter’s Day. As far as the food world is concerned, St Peter is the patron saint of fishermen.
St Philibert’s Day
The 20th of August is St Philbert’s Day. It marks the start of the hazelnut harvest in England. It used to also be the time for very bawdy nutting festivities.
St Vincent Patron Saint of Winemakers
The 22nd of January is the feast day of St Vincent, the patron saint of winemakers. As the biggest celebrations are in Burgundy, France, you could mark the day by enjoying a nice bottle of wine this evening from the Burgundy region.
St Zita’s Day
The 27th of April is St Zita’s Day. She is the patron saint of bakers, because angels reputedly baked bread for her.
Star Wars Day
The 4th of May is Star Wars Day. Blue milk, anyone? Have some friends over in their favourite Star Wars costumes and make some Star Wars recipes!
Start of Second World War 1939
World War Two began on the 1st of September 1939. It would be a war in which food played a deciding role. In fact, some have said it could be argued that home economists played a starring role in winning the war.
Sticky Bun Day
The 21st of February is Sticky Bun Day. Learn what makes sticky buns different from similar gooey treats such as cinnamon buns and Chelsea buns.