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 |
The 1st of March is St David's Day. He is reputed to have had his soldiers attach leeks to their caps.
The Doll Festival is an unofficial, fun holiday in Japan, mostly for small girls. Girls arrange their collection of dolls for proud display on tiered stands in their living rooms.
The 4th of March is Pound Cake Day. If the day has crept up on you caught you unawares so that you don't have time to make one, you could always sneak out to the grocery store.
Pretzel Sunday is observed on 4th Sunday before Easter in Luxembourg, where it's called Bretzelsonndeg. A boy can offer a pretzel to a girl he fancies.
The 6th of March is Frozen Food Day; in fact, all of March is Frozen Food Month.
Today is reputedly the day on which to enjoy a Crown Roast of Pork.
The 9th of March marks the end of the Pastry War in 1838 between Mexico and France. Treat yourself to a pastry!
Barbie Millicent Roberts was born on this day in 1959. Well, perhaps not born, but she had her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.
A Penny Loaf was a common size loaf of bread in England set down by the Assize of Bread Act in 1226. The actual cost and weight of the bread, however, would vary based on the flour that had been used.
Mothering Sunday is Mother's Day in England. Observance started in the 1500s at least. Simnel cake is traditional on this day.
The 14th of March is an unofficial Japanese holiday: White Day. It is a day when men give to women white presents, which can be gifts of food or other items.
Potato Chip Day: the day on which you get to have one potato chip, but then have to stop... Try cooking with potato chips today.
Oranges and Lemons Day takes place every year in London, usually on the third Thursday of March at the Church of St Clement Danes in London.
The 16th of March is the birthday of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. It was founded on this day in 1971 by young journalists from the Manchester and Liverpool areas.
St Patrick's Day is a day to celebrate all things Irish. It is a major food and drink day.
Carling Sunday, otherwise known as Passion Sunday, is celebrated in Scotland and in northern England on the fifth Sunday in Lent, two Sundays from Easter. Boiled, fried dried peas known as "carlings" are served.
Agriculture day has been celebrated annually since 1973 in America on the first day of spring.
The 20th of March is Ravioli Day! If it's a weekend, see if you can talk a group of friends into coming round in the afternoon and making the Ravioli for dinner from scratch.
The 21st of March is French Bread Day. There are so many different kinds of French bread.
Fannie Merritt Farmer was born on this day, 23 March, in 1857 in Boston. She revolutionized the way Americans cook.
March 23rd is Melba Toast Day. Enjoy some melba toast with some cold cuts and cheeses, or alongside a soup or salad, or maybe with some cream cheese and smoked salmon on it.
Chocolate covered raisins can be very hard to stop eating, as they are so morish! Well, here's a day where you don't have to stop yourself!
Palm Sunday marks the day when Jesus reputedly was greeted by people waving palm branches in Jerusalem. Palm fronds are now traditional, but in the days before international shipping, people would use pussy willow branches or wild flowers instead.
The 25th of March is Waffle Day — the perfect reason to treat yourself to some waffles today. You could order them at a restaurant, or buy some frozen ones and heat them up at home. Or, even make your own!
The 25th of March celebrates Greece regaining its freedom after centuries of occupation.
The 25th of March is Lady Day, or the Annunciation in the Christian Church calendar. Falling as it did during Lent, people would make a special effort to make what they were allowed to eat during Lent more interesting.
The 25th of March is Tichborne Dole Day, held since the 1100s. Bread was originally given out to people in the parish; now it is flour.
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday immediately before Easter. This was the day of the last supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
The date for Good Friday changes wildly every year. A solemn day in the Christian calendar, it marks the day Christ was crucified on the cross by Romans.