Buffet table. Andrea Egger / Pixabay.com / 2010 / CC0 1.0
What’s happening when and where in the world of food: a calendar of 700 special food-related days. Celebrate these food holidays with suggested activities and recipes, learn about the history, literature and lore behind these delicious days and explore the links for further learning! Many of the food calendar days also contain additional links to resource kits.
See also: Food Holidays: Where Are They All Coming From?
| January | May | September |
| February | June | October |
| March | July | November |
| April | August | December |
May Day celebrations were a big holiday during the Middle Ages. The trunks of very tall trees were used as May Poles and would be painted and decorated.
The 1st of May is Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Day. All across the world, people visit, phone and email friends and neighbours excitedly to exchange their bread pudding recipes.
The 2nd of May is Truffles Day, celebrating the kind of truffles that are like mushrooms. You could plan a meal around them, or buy a bottle of truffle-flavoured oil.
The 2nd of May is World Tuna Day. It is a United Nations designated food day to help us appreciate the economic and ecological importance of tuna fish.
The 3rd of May is Polish Constitution Day. It is a nation-wide public holiday in Poland, as well as an occasion for festivities in Polish communities around the world.
The 4th of May is Orange Juice Day. Who doesn't like a glass of sunshine at breakfast? It's also a delicious ingredient to cook with!
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!
On the 5th of May, the Cinco de Mayo (known by some as the Drinko de Mayo) commemorates a Mexican victory over the French army in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla.
No Diet Day is the 6th of May. The day is meant to celebrate body size and shape acceptance. It also promotes eating with a focus on improving health, rather than with a focus solely on decreasing weight.
The 7th of May is Roast Leg of Lamb Day. You could spit-roast one on your backyard grill, or use today as an excuse to fire up the oven and have an all-out roast dinner.
Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May. The original intent was that women's peace groups would use the day to call for disarmament and peace. Now, it's a day for flowers, gifts and meals.
The 8th of May is "Have a Coke Day". Coke, short for "Coca-Cola", is a global brand, so today truly is an international holiday. How do you prefer yours? In a glass, can, or bottle?
The 9th of May is Europe Day, a celebration to mark peace and unity in Europe. The European Union in recent years has been at the forefront of many advances in the world of food.
Shrimp Day is the 10th of May. It's a good reason to tuck into a good feed of shrimp, and to clear up some confusion over what's a shrimp, what's a scampi, what's a prawn.
The 10th of May is the birthday of Hostess Cupcakes. It's a whole day dedicated to celebrating this iconic American dessert, which is a chocolate cupcake with vanilla cream in the middle.
The 11th of May is "Eat What You Want Day." It's a day to indulge in foods you don't normally have or allow yourself. It could be something calorie-laden, or, something expensive.
The first U.S. C.A.R.E packages arrived in Europe on the 11th of May 1946. The packages saved thousands upon thousands of people from death by starvation, and helped hundreds of thousands more to rebuild their lives after World War Two.
Nutty Fudge Day is the 12th of May. The day celebrates fudge with nuts in it. What are your favourite nuts in fudge?
The 13th of May is International Hummus Day. It is a day to celebrate the creamy, garlicky, nutty-tasting dip that everyone loves. How garlicky do you like yours?
The 13th of May is World Cocktail Day. Cocktails are a fun way to get friends together. Host a DIY cocktail party!
The 13th of May is Apple Pie Day. There's even a song for Apple Pie Day. It's sung to the tune of "Happy Birthday to you".
The 14th of May is Buttermilk Biscuit Day. Who can say no to a buttermilk biscuit, hot out of the oven, split in half and buttered? Make sure you get in line for a few today! Or, make some at home...
The third Sunday in May is World Baking Day. This day is celebrated on a Sunday to give everyone time to bake something.
The Alresford Watercress Festival happens annually in May in Alresford, Hampshire, England. The town has been a centre of watercress production since the mid-Victorian era.
The 15th of May is Chocolate Chip Day. Say hello to your old friend chocolate chips today - it's easy to fit them into just about any kind of treat!
The 15th of May is the birthday of Joseph Campbell, the founder of the Campbell's soup company. The condensed soup for which the company is now famous was introduced in 1897.
The 15th of May is Saint Isidore's day. On this day, many towns in Spain hold processions in his name to bless the fields for the coming growing season.
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.
The 17th of May is Constitution Day in Norway. It is a very big event in Norway, celebrated even in small villages.
The 18th of May is No Dirty Dishes Day. It is particularly a good holiday for those who don't have a dishwasher. And, it's a good day to celebrate finger foods.
The 19th of May is Devil's Food Cake Day. When's the last time you had Devil's Food Cake? Maybe Devil's Food Cake seems quaint now, but for decades, it was a big thing dessert-wise
Caesar Day celebrates the Caesar cocktail. As far as garnishes go, the sky is now the limit for them — you can make a meal of one, or two, today!
The 20th of May is World Bee Day, to raise awareness of the vital role that bees play in the eco system and in the food supply system.
The 20th of May is Weights and Measures Day. It celebrates units of measurement, which are particularly important in the culinary world.
The 21st of May is Wonder Bread's birthday! The circles on its iconic packaging represent balloons. Everything about it, both the bread itself and the packaging, is a form of kitschy nostalgia for many people.
International Tea Day is the 21st of May. It promotes the sustainable production of tea and improving the lives of workers involved in producing tea. And, naturally, enjoying tea!
The 21st of May is Strawberries 'n Cream Day. You can celebrate with fresh strawberries, or make up a dish by folding strawberry jam or thawed frozen strawberries into whipped cream.
The 22nd of May is Vanilla Pudding Day. You could celebrate by whipping one up from scratch, or cheating and using a powdered mix, or by just whipping open a "pudding cup" on the run.
The 23rd of May is Taffy Day. Treat yourself to some taffy today. You may even wish to try your hand at making some!
The 24th of May is Victoria Day, celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday. It marks the unofficial opening to the summer foods season.
The 24th of May is Escargot Day. Escargot had their heyday in the 1970s, when everyone ate them with garlic butter and bought the Escargot dishes for home use.
The 25th of May is Wine Day. Treat yourself to a glass of wine today! Perhaps one a bit more pricey than you usually allow yourself...
The 26th of May is Cherry Dessert Day. It's a day to treat yourself to a dessert featuring cherries. What's your favourite cherry dessert?
International Pickle Week is a 10-day long promotional period held in America each year, usually in May. It spans the American Memorial Day weekend, which is the start to summer in the US. #InternationalPickleWeek
The 27th of May is Grape Popsicle Day. Popsicles bring back warm summer memories to so many people. When's the last time you had a popsicle?
The 28th of May is Hamburger Day. Celebrating with a hamburger for lunch — or for dinner, maybe even making up a dish with hamburgers as the main ingredient. Recipes for this exist!
The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is Italian Beef Day, celebrating the specialty sandwich born in Chicago! Treat yourself to one today!
The 29th of May is End of the Middle Ages Day. This could be an interesting day to have some friends over to sample some medieval food, and to try some mead!
The 29th of May is Oak Apple Day. Beer and plum pudding are traditional today.
The 30th of May is Mint Julep Day. May is the time of the year when, according to Google, web searches on mint julep peak.
Memorial Day in the United States is a day to honour military people who have died in the course of duty. The day also marks the symbolic start of summer, and that means the start of summer foods.
The 31st of May is Macaroon Day. How do you like your macaroons? With or without coconut? Chewy or crispy? American style or French style?
| January | May | September |
| February | June | October |
| March | July | November |
| April | August | December |