Summer is perfect for Watermelon Seed Spitting Week
It’s quite possible that I selected the topics for this week’s column while I hungry because all of these unofficial holidays are related to food.
This first holiday is actually celebrated over the course of several days, from June 27 to June 30; Watermelon Seed Spitting Week originated in Texas around 1954 but has spread to many other states and, despite the name, does celebrate the whole watermelon, not just the seeds. Events include parades, music, carnival attractions, food, and much more.
The next food-related day I chose is National Orange Blossom Day, which is celebrated on June 27th. Orange blossoms may not immediately make you think of food, since the scent is popular in perfumes, but they make excellent teas and add a lovely light citrus flavor to your baking.
Moving on to National Onion Day, also celebrated on June 27th, I was surprised to learn that this day commemorates the 1913 incorporation of the National Onion Association. Apparently, recent studies have shown that consuming onions is healthy, helping the body fight colorectal cancer and breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. In addition to being good for you, onions, of all types, help flavor a wide variety of dishes.
Wrapping up this food-themed column, I’m combining National Bomb Pop Day and National Ice Cream Cake Day, both of which are also celebrated on June 27th. Both popular sweets have been around for a while, though ice cream cakes are thought by some food historians to have their original iterations as far back as the 16th century. Others believe they might be based on “Bombes”, a dessert that was popular in the mid-1800s. Meanwhile, the original Bomb Pops, invented by Merritt Foods in Missouri were released in 1955.
Now that I’ve shared little tidbits of these food-related holidays, I hope I’ve inspired you to celebrate at least one of them. For recipe suggestions, check out our varied cookbook collection and A to Z World Foods, one of our digital databases!
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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Summer is perfect for Watermelon Seed Spitting Week
