Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: July 2022: National Picnic Month. My niece Lily has been asking to go on a Family Picnic. Now that we are in the Apartments and have a place to host a Picnic if I had knew this with David being off I would have taken them to get Lunchables and we could have had our Picnic.
As usual there parents may not let them come and I would have upset Lily and Jason by asking and them being told they couldn’t come here. Instead I think Charlie, David and I will have our own picnic and go swimming. Would you like to come with us?
National Picnic Month
When the cold winds are a distant memory, and the Sun is shining in the Summer sky, that is when you celebrate National Picnic Month, which falls in July.
I don’t know about you but there is no, better way to welcome Summer than with a basket full of goodies, beverages, and the fresh outdoor air because National Picnic Month was founded to celebrate the history of this activity and the way picnics brings people, cultures, and Countries together.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH
Did you know outdoor dining in one version or another has been around for ages. People have used picnics for family gatherings, to celebrations, and even being a form of peaceful protest. The earliest known record of picnics by people is the outdoor meals served to Medieval royal hunters. These early picnics were large fancy meals, and this trend continued through the Victorian Era, before eventually becoming a light repast with whatever a person could carry. The 19th Century cemented the picnic as a light meal in Cultures everywhere. The modern version of picnics came from the French. The revolutionaries opened up royal parks to the public after the French Revolution, and picnicking became a popular activity for newly freed citizens. Even the word ‘picnic’ is likely of French origin, or at least that is what some people believe. Picnic might come from the French verb ‘piquer,’ which means to ‘pick’ or ‘peck’, and ‘nique,’ meaning ‘thing of little importance.’
In literature, one of the very first references to picnics was in the tale of Robin Hood. Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men would frequently dine on Bread, Cheese, and Beer under the shelter of the trees.
The charm of eating meals outdoors grew in leaps and bounds in proportion to the growth in busier lifestyles. People needed a dedicated reason to relax, so much so that a Picnic Society was even formed in London. Members met at the Pantheon which is a popular public entertainment space in Oxford Street. There they would share entertainment and refreshments. Now, cultures over the world have added their own spin to picnics and made this tradition their own.
As for Americans, they pull out picnics on every major holiday including Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day with special events like races and eating contests included.
Another tradition followed today by multiple cultures is picnicking next to headstones, when people enjoy recreational activities in the Cemetery as a way to celebrate their dead loved ones. England followed this tradition in the Victorian Era, Mexico celebrates the Día de los Muertos lunch among family gravesites, and the Chinese have their Chung Yeung Festival to honor their ancestors. Less common in the U.S., morticians and preservationists support this tradition, believing it to be a good way to enjoy life at all stages and honor our loved ones.
The non-profit organization American Bakers’ Association, founded National Picnic Month.
NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH FAQS
National Picnic Day is celebrated on April 23 in the U.S.
A picnic is a meal taken outdoors, ideally in surroundings like a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or in places where public events like games and performances can be viewed.
No records exist currently of who invented National Picnic Day or even when it was first created.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH
- Pick a nearby park and bring your favorite foods along. You can turn this into a solitary adventure or a family get-together. Pick your spot, choose your food, and enjoy the outdoors.
- While solitary meals are great for a bit of soul-searching, nothing beats family time over a delicious meal. Entice your family into sharing picnics by planning a fun day of events along with a smorgasbord of finger foods. You can include board games, cards, barbecues, ball games, and Hot Potato for the younger crowd.
- There are so many benefits to taking a meal outdoors, away from a screen, that we can’t even count them all. Take a minute to plan multiple quick and easy picnics this entire month. You don’t have to stray far away from your homes and offices. Step into the backyard, or take your food onto the patio, or visit the closest park. The key is to enjoy a meal in the fresh air. .
FUN PICNIC TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
- Japan’s cherry blossom picnics– Hanami — Cherry blossom-viewing season — sees many Japanese picnicking beneath these lovely blooms.
- France’s dining ware– When the French dine outdoors, their Wine is always poured into stemware that allows it to breathe instead of being stifled in a normal cup.
- New Zealand’s picnic beverage– In a tradition stemming from the 19th Century, New Zealanders almost always have Tea while on a picnic.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH
- Most of us have been cooped up inside for far too long by the time July rolls around. Which makes July the perfect month for an outdoor excursion. What better way to enjoy the fresh air than with a meal with loved ones? Most of us love getting out there and enjoying a meal in Nature’s bounty.
- After a stressful week, all you want to do is relax; the weather in July is perfect for a picnic. You can indulge in an activity most everyone loves and give our loved ones our undivided attention without any distractions.
- Picnics are a wonderful way for us to get to know our surroundings and explore the City we live in. By finding new places to visit with each picnic, you learn about new parks and gardens and other locales might otherwise not have known about.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
