Buffet table. Andrea Egger / Pixabay.com / 2010 / CC0 1.0
What’s happening when and where in the world of food: a calendar of special food days.
| January | May | September |
| February | June | October |
| March | July | November |
| April | August | December |
April's Fool Day is a day traditionally for playing tricks on others. The tricks are meant to be harmless tricks, aimed particularly at fooling someone into believing something that isn't real.
Easter Sunday is the day when the church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Food-wise, it is celebrated with great feasting and special foods.
On this day in 1755, Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was born in France. He wrote the first book about the pleasures of food, published in 1825.
Hare Pie Day takes place in Hallaton, Leicestershire on Easter Monday. Originally pie made of hare was distributed, but now it's beef pie, followed by a beer keg contest.
The date for Easter Monday varies wildly every year. It is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday.
Carob may look like chocolate and be marketed like chocolate, but one taste and you know the old saying is true: sometimes beauty really is only skin deep.
Easter Tuesday is the day after Easter Monday. There are several rituals involving food, candies and treats in many parts of Europe.
The 17th of April is a good day to learn what Coffee Cake actually is — and treat yourself and a friend to a slice while you're at it.
The 7th of April is the birthday of William Keith Kellogg, the inventor of Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and other famous breakfast cereals.
Passover is a Jewish holiday. Special foods are served to symbolize the slavery of the Jews in Egypt and their escape from it.
Bananas made their London Debut on 10 April 1633 in a shop window. It was the shop window of shopkeeper Thomas Johnson, who had a herbalist shop on Snow Hill in the neighbourhood still called Holburn.
Liquorice Day is designed to promote true liquorice. If you don't have a sweet tooth, remember there are liquorice-flavoured adult beverages such as Anissette, Herbsaint, Pastis, Sambuca, etc.
Catherine de Medici was born in Florence, Italy, and became Queen of France. She is credited with many food innovations. Today is her birthday.
The 14th of April is the day to treat yourself to a piece of Pecan Pie, and learn all about pecans.
The 15th of April is Glazed Ham Day. You usually only get to glaze a ham on high holidays such as Christmas and Easter, when the pressure is on.
On the 15th of April 1912, the Titanic sunk. The Titanic almost seems like it was one big floating restaurant.
The 16th of April is Eggs Benedict Day. This breakfast dish is a real treat, so go ahead and treat yourself today!
Many foodies hate cheeseballs, regarding them as very tacky! But today's a day to celebrate these concoctions in all their "cheesiness"!
The 19th of April is Garlic Day. Don't worry about your breath today; no one will notice because everyone else will be eating it too — apparently.
When's the last time you had Pineapple Upside-Down Cake? Few homemade cakes are as spectacular as this one is.
The Third Saturday in April is celebrated as Damson Day in the Lyth Valley in Cumbria, England.
The 22nd of April is Jelly Bean Day. This is the biggest selling time of the year for jelly beans.
St George is the Patron saint of England. St George's mushrooms start to appear on this day in England.
The Bavarian Beer Purity Law governs what ingredients can be used for beer made in Germany. Many beer enthusiasts will know about this already.
The 23rd of April is William Shakespeare's birthday. The works of Shakespeare are full of food and drink.
The 24th of April is Pigs-In-A-Blanket day. What's your definition, and are you a fan?
Anzac Day is a solemn day jointly shared by Australia and New Zealand. Anzac is short for Australian (and) New Zealand Army Corps.
The Peppercorn Ceremony is held in St George, Bermuda in April. Today, enjoy some freshly-ground pepper from peppercorns, or include whole peppercorns in a recipe.
26th April is Pretzel Day. What's your favourite pretzel? Soft ones or the hard, crunchy ones?
St Zita is the patron saint of bakers, because angels reputedly baked bread for her.
The 28th of April is Cracker Day. And fair enough. The lowly, crunchy, work-horse cracker doesn't often get much attention.
Floralia was a Roman festival to honour the goddess of flowers, Flora. It was held from the 28th of April to the 3rd of May.
The 29th of April is Shrimp Scampi Day: A day to enjoy large shrimp (aka prawns) sautéed briefly with a bit of garlic and wine.
Cherry Blossom Day is a day in Japan. To the Japanese, viewing cherry trees in blossom is a much-loved spring activity.
Béaltaine, on the 30th April, marked the start of summer in the Celtic calendar. People leapt through fires, and made special foods. It was the best time of the year to try to see a faery.