Clams. Jon Sullivan / Pixnio / Public Domain
The 31st of March is Clams on the Half Shell Day.
You can get clams on the half shell grilled, steamed, smoked or even raw.
The timing of many food holidays makes no sense, but the timing of this one actually does. This is the Lenten period, during which meat was traditionally forbidden but seafood was allowed (encouraged, even, by all the fishermen!) Though the prohibitions are gone, the traditional inclinations remain for some.
It is a particularly good food holiday for you if you live near any seaside towns, so you can go and enjoy some locally caught ones.
Some restaurants will offer specials today.
If you are going to try making them yourself at home from fresh, make sure to read up in advance on how to shuck them, as there is definitely a technique for it, and if this is your first time, allow yourself some extra preparation time to get the knack of it.
Or, you can buy frozen, uncooked ones already prepared and bake them at home.
#ClamsOnTheHalfShellDay
History
The earliest mention that CooksInfo has found of a 31st of March “National Clams on the Half Shell Day” in print archives dates from 2001 in Texas. They attributed the source of the day to a web resource at www.library.thinkquest.org:
“March 31: Bunsen Burner Day and National Clams on the Half Shell Day. (Source: Bizarre American Holidays at www.library.thinkquest.org)” — The Edge Column. Austin, Texas: The Daily Texan. Monday, 5 March 2001. Page 2, col. 1.
Sources
Loughlin, Ryan. Weekly Wacky Holiday: March 31 — Clams on the Half Shell Day. Pleasantville, New Jersey: The Press of Atlantic City. 28 March 2018. Accessed February 2021 at https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/attheshore/dining/weekly-wacky-holiday-march-clams-on-the-half-shell-day/article_b292f025-4d19-500a-8d1b-e348c5a582d1.html
PRNewsWire. Matlaws. Gloucester, Massachusetts. 18 February 2015. Accessed February 2021 at https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/break-out-of-your-shell-on-fish-fridays-this-lenten-season-with-matlaws-2015-02-18
WNEM news. Best seafood in Mid-Michigan. 26 March 2018. Accessed February 2021 at https://www.wnem.com/news/top-on-best-seafood-in-mid-michigan/article_5f11c18d-870c-5202-9d5d-fe26d3fc3eb2.html