National Picnic Day
About National Picnic Day
When is National Picnic Day? This holiday is always observed on April 23
It is springtime, and every day the weather is getting a little nicer. Is it nice enough in your area to get outside and enjoy it? We sure hope so, as today is National Picnic Day. Grab the paper plates and plastic cutlery. On this lovely April 23 Spring day, we are encouraged to have a fun picnic lunch or dinner. For most of us, it is the first time in several months we can enjoy eating outdoors. I don’t know about you, but the picnic table is calling me. And, today is going to be the first of many days of eating outside.
Picnics can take a wide variety of forms. Spread your food and drinks out onto a picnic table. Or, you can fill a picnic basket with goodies and eat it on a blanket. Add a bottle of wine for a romantic picnic. Have your picnic in your backyard, at a park, or on the beach. Your choice of foods is unlimited, from sandwiches and cold fried chicken, to hot dogs and hamburgers. And, don’t forget the baked beans and watermelon. Drink choices are broad, too. Beer, lemonade, Kool-Aid, and wine are popular choices.
Did of Know? The word “picnic” comes from the French word “Piquenique”. It was coined in 1692 and refers to social events.
The Evolution of Picnics
The French are credited with holding the first picnic. In 1789 during the French Revolution, Royal Parks were opened to the general public for the first time. People flocked to the royal parks carrying blankets and baskets of food and wine. Picnics came into being and were quite popular. Their popularity spread to England and other countries in Europe. This form of casual outdoor dining eventually spread across the Atlantic to America. Today, people all over the world celebrate events and reunions with picnics, complete with food, drink, and games. And, if the weather is inclement, open up the garage door and hold it in the garage protected from the weather.
It doesn’t take much incentive to hold a picnic. They are popular for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. In the summer, picnics are a great way to create new memories at family reunions, graduations, neighborhood get-togethers or street parties, anniversaries, birthday parties and so many more events.
For the Record:
In 2000, France set a new picnic record. It was held along 600 miles of coastline.
In 2009, Portugal set a record of 20,000 people at a picnic.
How to Celebrate National Picnic Day
There are so many ways to celebrate and participate in National Picnic Day. Here are a few ideas:
- Plan an easy meal and eat at the picnic table.
- Head out to your local park with a blanket and basket filled with goodies.
- Have a family picnic.
- Have a block or street party.
- Hold outdoor games during the picnic.
- If the weather is still a little cook in your area, hold a picnic around a campfire.
Did You Know? When an ant finds goodies on your picnic table, it leaves a scent as it travels along the way back to its nest. This allows other ants to follow the trail back to your picnic table.
Today's Quotes
“If you go for a stroll, have a picnic or lunch with a glass of wine – it doesn’t get better than that.” – – Meghan Markle
“We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics.” – – Bill Vaughan
“Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.” – – W.H. Auden
History and Origin of National Picnic Day
Our extensive research has not yet identified the creator of this holiday or why it was created. As a matter of fact, there is very little written about this holiday. We did find a reference to an annual picnic celebration held at UC Davis. Held annually since 1909, this event attracts tens of thousands of participants. But, it is held in May and the organizer’s website offers no connection to National Picnic Day.
It appears that this date was selected as it is springtime in many parts of the country, so we turn our thoughts to outdoor activities like picnics. But, in some areas, it still remains a little too cold for outdoor picnics.
Without any information from the creator of this day, we may never know if this is a true national holiday. We found no documentation in congressional records to confirm that this is truly a national day. Nor, did we find a presidential proclamation.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is important to distinguish true National days.
Related Holidays
More April 23 Holidays
Here are more April 23 holidays we are sure you will enjoy:
National Zucchini Bread Day – they hold this at a time when you are not sick of all that zucchini.
More About Today
Flower of the Day: Painted Tongue
Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Zucchini Nut Bread or Zucchini Bread recipe
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Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. April holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.