Welcome to our series featuring Food Holidays: December 2nd, 2022. Today is National Egg Nog Month a holiday Charlie and I plan on passing on. Neither of us care for Egg Nog. How about you. Do you like Eggnog?
National Egg Nog Month
For a lot of people Christmas Eve just got better with National Eggnog Day. You know, the drink that is only available in stores during the holiday season. A sweet beverage made from Milk, Sugar, Spices, Cream, and Eggs. Eggnog has been enjoyed by families a day before Christmas for Centuries now. Liquor is optional for those who want to get more festive during the Holidays.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY
Eggnog, also known as Egg Milk Punch when prepared as an Alcoholic drink, is a rich and creamy dairy beverage basically made by mixing Cream, Milk, Sugar, and Whipped Eggs to create a frothy texture. Liquor is optional, and, once prepared, the drink is served chilled.
The origins of Egg Nog are highly debated, as well as the primary ingredients used for it. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘Nog’ was used to describe a type of strong Beer brewed in East Anglia, England. Others argue that Eggnog was developed as a beverage in Medieval Europe, using piping hot Milk.
The first time the term was printed was in the March 26th issue of the “New-Jersey Journal” in 1788, referring to a man enjoying a glass of Eggnog. Again, there is no consensus on how Eggnog got its name. One theory suggests that Eggnog was first named ‘grog’, eventually evolving to ‘Eggnog.’ Other sources claim that ‘nog’ was used in the Old English vocabulary for a strong Sle. Essentially, this means that Egg and Nog is a nod to any drink containing Eggs and Alcohol.
Eggnog could possibly also have been a spin-off of the once-popular drink enjoyed by the British called posset. Made using curdled Milk mixed with Wine, it was often used for medicinal purposes. Later, in the 16th Century, Cream and a Citrus base were added to the ingredients.
NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY ACTIVITIES
- Christmas is pretty much the only occasion when we indulge in Eggnog.
- If drinking Eggnog is not your thing, you can always enjoy Eggnog flavor in Ice Cream or even bake a batch of Eggnog Cookies.
- Join thousands of other people in enjoying National Eggnog Day using the hashtag #NationalEggnogDay
5 FACTS ABOUT EGGNOG
- George Washington loved to prepare and serve Eggnog and his personal recipe is now a permanent sensation.
- After Starbucks removed Eggnog Latte from their holiday menu, it resulted in a backlash and countless complaints.
- The Puerto Ricans’ version of the Eggnog is ‘Coquito’ a drink prepared with Cinnamon, Coconut Milk, Rum, and Whipped Egg Yolks.
- As part of his goofy Christmas traditions, David Letterman liked using Eggnog in some of his features.
- According to Indiana University’s statistics, Americans consume over 135 million pounds of Eggnog annually.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY
- Christmas Eve gets all the attention, being the night before Christmas Day and we love how National Eggnog Day shines a light on one of the best parts of Christmas Eve itself Eggnog!
- When you think about it, Eggnog is quite a unique blend. It is neither a Smoothie nor a Milkshake or Powdered Drink. Eggnog is a totally unique beverage with many ways to enjoy it, and we love it!
- It’s the little things like Eggnog that contribute to making Christmas the joyous occasion it is. Appreciating these little things preserves tradition and keeps it going for future generations to come.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
