How We Check Food Holidays

Food holidays should be fun—and the information behind them should be clear.

Where our information comes from

We look first for the people or organizations behind a holiday: its creator, organizer, original announcement, or an official proclamation. Older newspapers, magazines, and other records can also help establish when a holiday was celebrated.

Other food-holiday websites can offer useful clues, but repeating a date doesn’t prove who started the holiday. When the original story is unclear, we say so.

Dates can change

Some holidays fall on the same date every year. Others follow a rule, such as the first Friday in June, or are announced by an organizer each year. Check the date on the holiday’s page before making plans.

A checked date doesn’t necessarily mean we know who created the holiday. And a holiday called “National” isn’t necessarily an official government designation.

Stories and sources

We aim to link to evidence that supports what a page says. The history of a food and the history of its holiday are different stories; we don’t assume the person who invented the food also created the celebration.

Some existing pages still cite food-holiday calendars while we look for stronger original records.

Help us make it better

Found a mistake or a better source? Send a correction or suggestion. Include the holiday name, what should change, and a link or reference we can check.

Sponsored content

Paid features, when offered, will be clearly identified. Payment doesn’t make a holiday’s history or date more authoritative.