International Hummus Day
When is International Hummus Day? This holiday is always celebrated on May 13
Let’s give three cheers to the tasty little legume with a long history, which enjoys worldwide popularity, and is packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins. Today is International Hummus Day! This May 13 holiday celebrates the love of hummus. According to this holiday’s creator, International Hummus Day is about “connecting people all over the world around hummus. It’s a special opportunity”.
Making hummus is simple. There are many recipes. Hummus goes well with a wide variety of foods and is good on crackers. Try hummus as a dip, with a stick of celery or carrots. In addition to Chickpeas as the main ingredient, other items that may be included are olive oil, sesame paste (called “tahini”), garlic, and a variety of vegetables. In recent years, manufacturers have become creative, with all sorts of flavors, including avocado, lemon artichoke, red pepper, smoky bacon, and taco to name a few.
Make this a day to celebrate hummus and the garbanzo bean. We certainly will!!!
Did You Know? Kids and more than a few adults nickname chickpeas “Spider Eggs”.
About Hummus and Chickpeas
To have a conversation about Hummus, one must talk about the main ingredient, which is chickpeas, also called “garbanzo beans”. Chickpeas are a legume, a vegetable related to garden sweet peas. They are neither dairy nor a nut, so there are only a few people who may be allergic to them. Chickpeas have been around for thousands of years, dating back to an estimated 6,700 B.C. At that time, they were found in the wild, as the man had not yet begun to cultivate crops. The first historical written record goes back to 1,200 B.C. Chickpeas are native to the Middle East. Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon each claim to be where they originated.
There is definitely a lot to love about Chickpeas (and therefore Hummus). They taste good and are eaten by both humans and animals. Chickpeas are healthy and nutritious. They are high in protein and fiber, Vitamin C, B6, foliates, and potassium. In addition to their nutritional value, garbanzo beans have health benefits, including reducing hunger pangs, lowering cholesterol levels, and reducing the risk of cancer.
How to Celebrate and Participate in International Hummus Day
What is the best way to celebrate this special day?
- Eat hummus. Select your favorite flavor at the grocery store.
- Make Humus at home. It’s easy.
- Eat chickpeas. In addition to being the main ingredient in hummus, they are great in salads and soups.
- Grow Chickpeas.
Today's Quote
“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” Kevin Olson, President, Chairman and Founder of Digital Equipment Corporation,1977.
History and Origin of International Hummus Day
International Hummus Day was created by Ben Lang from Israel in 2012. Lang’s objective was “to create a holiday around a food that could bring people together from around the world”. We thank Ben for creating such a healthy and delicious holiday.
We traded emails with Ben Lang about this day. While his website about this day has the title “Hummus Day“, he prefers to call this holiday event “International Hummus Day”. He went on to say that he is open to all versions of the title.
It is not a true “National” day. We did not find any U.S. congressional records or presidential proclamations making this a “National” day. Nor, did we find any proclamation from the government of Israel.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is important to distinguish true National days.
If you have any information about this holiday, please email us.
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