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 |
January 1st is New Year's Day around the world. Some foods are seen as lucky to eat at New Year. The foods, though, vary by culture. In Japan, it's noodles and rice cakes; in the southern US, it's black-eyed peas; in Italy it's lentils.
The 1st of January is Bloody Mary Day. Some people say the reason for Bloody Mary Day being the 1st of January is that it's a popular home-cure for the hangovers from New Year's Eve the night before.
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.
The 2nd of January is the anniversary of Campbell's Cream of Broccoli Soup launch in 1990. Marketed as a cooking ingredient, it was the single most successful product in 55 years for Campbell's. While children called it "the swamp thing", adults loved it.
The 2nd of January is National Buffet Day. Give yourself a break from all the cooking you've been doing, and have one last splurge before the New Year dieting begins in earnest.
Cream Puff Day is the 2nd of January. Yes, we've just finished the Christmas food bingeing season, but cream puffs are light — well, in name, anyway!
The 3rd of January is J.R.R. Tolkien Day, celebrating the author of The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. The key point is a toast to the Professor done at 9 p.m.
The 4th of January is Spaghetti Day. Enjoy a bowl of spaghetti today; meatballs or no meatballs, homemade or made by your favourite restaurant, it's your choice!
The evening of the 5th of January is Twelfth Night. Though now we cram all of Christmas into one day, traditionally, people thought of Christmas as being a 12 day festival.
The 5th of January is Whipped Cream Day! It celebrates the birth of the inventor of Reddi-Wip, the aerosol spray cream in a can.
The 6th of January is Bean Day. If you're in a rush today, you could mark Bean Day by having some plain but honourable baked beans from your favourite tin on toast
The 6th of January is Epiphany. Epiphany marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas.
The 6th of January is Women's Christmas in Ireland. Traditionally, it was a day for women to get a bit of time for themselves after all the work for the 12 days of Christmas just ending.
The 6th of January is Shortbread Day! This could be a good day to dispose of the last of the Christmas Shortbread still hanging around by unloading it on friends and neighbours, or by cramming it into the lunchboxes of your unsuspecting loved ones.
The 7th of January commemorates the 1896 publication of the Boston Cooking School Cookbook, now simply referred to as the Fannie Farmer Cookbook after its author.
The 8th of January is the birthday of the American singer, Elvis Presley. He shot to fame at a young age, and later in life, he became equally famous for his love of Southern US food — and lots of it.
The 8th of January is English Toffee Day. There are many different flavours now. You could make some or support a local candy maker by buying some from them.
January 9th is Apricot Day. Treat yourself to a fresh apricot, or some apricot products such as apricot jam, canned apricots, or dried apricots.
The 10th of January is Oysters Rockefeller Day. This legendary recipe was invented in New Orleans. You could make some at home or treat yourself to some at a meal out.
The 11th of January is the Juternalia, a water festival holiday in honour of a Roman water goddess named Juturna. It was celebrated by the workers who maintained the aqueducts and fountains that supplied the city of Rome with public water.
The 11th of January is Milk Day. You can enjoy a tall, cool glass of your favourite kind of milk today, either plain, or maybe even flavoured — chocolate? strawberry? banana?
Plough Monday is typically the first Monday after Twelfth Night. The actual date will vary. Field workers would dress up, decorate a plough and drag it behind them through villages.
The 12th of January is Marzipan Day. If you're a fan, and didn't get enough marzipan at Christmas, you may still be able to get some marzipan products in the after-Christmas sales.
The 13th of January is Peach Melba Day. It is very easy to make this special treat dessert at home today to celebrate the day and its connection with food history.
The 14th of January is Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day. Layers of heated pastrami, served on warmed rye bread. "Anytime a person goes into a delicatessen and orders a pastrami on white bread, somewhere a Jew dies." — Milton Berle
The 15th of January is Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Have some today, and remind yourself how wonderful quality strawberry ice cream can be, delicate pink in colour with nice large chunks of real, frozen strawberry in it.
The 16th of January is Fig Newton Day. It's a day to enjoy some Fig Newton cookies. What do you prefer yours with? Coffee, or tea?
The 17th of January is the Feast Day of St Anthony of Egypt the Patron Saint of Butchers. He is often depicted with a pig at his side.
The 17th of January is a night for wassailing apple trees in Carhampton, Somerset, with toast and apple cider.
The 18th of January is Peking Duck Day. Celebrate by treating yourself to one of the national dishes of China, accompanied by the traditional pancakes and soup.
The 19th of January is Popcorn Day. You could have a big bowl of homemade popcorn with your favourite topping, or make some popcorn balls, or even buy the popcorn already made.
The 20th of January is Cheese Lover's Day! Treat yourself to an old favourite cheese, or fall in love with a new one!
The 21st of January is Granola Bar Day. You can buy some, or make your own, which puts you in control of the sugar and salt that goes into them.
The 22nd of January is Blonde Brownie Day, timed seemingly in case you didn't already have a delicious reason to fall off your New Year's resolution diet.
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.
The 23rd of January is National Pie Day in America, sponsored by the American Pie Council, to encourage people to make and eat pies.
The 24th of January is Peanut Butter Day. You could try a recipe, sweet or savoury, that calls for peanut butter, or if you're in a hurry, have a peanut butter muffin or peanut butter sandwich!
On this day, the 24th of January, in 1922, the "Eskimo Pie" ice cream bar was patented.
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.
The 25th of January is Robbie Burns Day, celebrating the birthday of the man considered by many to be Scotland's national poet. Many food rituals are involved.
The 26th of January is Australia Day. It is an official public holiday throughout Australia, promoted by the government with fireworks and performances.
The 27th of January is Chocolate Cake Day, celebrating the wonders of just about everyone's favourite kind of cake. Treat yourself to a piece!
The 28th of January is Blueberry Pancake Day. You could try making some today, or enjoy some at a restaurant that is offering them as a promotion for the day.
The 29th of January is Potato Day, a day for all things spudly. You could make potato pancakes or even a potato cake today, or if you have children, show them how to make potato stamps!
The 30th of January is Croissant Day. There are many myths associated with croissants now; anything you're likely to hear about the history of croissants is almost certainly a myth.
The 31st of January is Hot Chocolate Day. What are your favourite hot chocolate toppings? Try these ideas to mix things up a bit.