Letter #45: What Would Be the Favorite National Food Days of Hobbits?

Asking the important questions here

Dear reader,

“A single man in possession of a good fortune”¹ must ask himself: If Hobbits lived in modern society, what would be their favorite days of the year?

I’m talking about those days like National Donut Day or National Egg Day.

There’s a day for everything to celebrate pretty much everything related to food and it’s a little wild.

According to this post from Bon Appetit and this one from NPR, Hobbits enjoy cold picnic types of items and baked items. (Also, the recipes at the bottom of the posts sound tasty!)

From these posts, I would think to be looking for days themed to honey, pies, ale, cakes, marmalade, breads, meats (sausage, bacon, beef, etc.), cider, potatoes (obviously!), onions, soups, cheese, tea, and muffins. I’ll also add vegetables, herbs, and spices to the mix.

Based on my *very scientific research* into the subject, I would propose this answer to the age-old question of what days of the year Hobbits would love the most, month-by-month:

January:

• January is National Soup MONTH

• National Cheese Lover’s Day (January 20th)

• National Pie Day (January 23rd)

February:

• National Homemade Soup Day (February 4th)

• Oatmeal Monday (February 14th)

March:

• National Pound Cake Day (March 4th)

• Pie Day (March 14th, which appears to be different from National Pie Day)

April:

• Day of the Mushrooms (April 16th; also, what a name!)

• Garlic Day (April 19th)

• National Picnic Day (April 23rd)

May:

• International Tea Day (May 21st and December 15th)

• National Roast Leg of Lamb Day (May 7th)

• National Foodies Day (May 9th; Hobbits are foodies)

• National Apple Pie Day (May 13th and December 3rd)

• National Buttermilk Biscuit Day (May 14th)

June:

• National Cheese Day (June 4th)

• National Gingerbread Day (June 5th)

• National Herbs & Spices Day (June 10th)

July:

• Eat Beans Day (July 3rd)

• Pick Blueberries Day (July 10th)

August:

• Potato Day (August 19th)

• National Zucchini Day (August 9th)

• National Peach Pie Day (August 24th)

September:

• International Bacon Day (either September 3rd or the Saturday before Labor Day; Labor Day is the first Monday of September)

• National “I Love Food” Day (September 9th)

• International Eat an Apple Day (September 17th)

• National Hot Mulled Cider Day (September 30th)

October:

• World Food Day (October 16th)

  • I’d like to think that Hobbits would be excited about as many people as possible getting a chance to eat!

• Apple Day (usually October 21st)

• National Food Day (October 24th)

• Pumpkin Day (October 26th)

• National Potato Day (October 27th)

• National Oatmeal Day (October 29th)

November:

• National Sandwich Day (November 3rd)

• Homemade Bread Day (November 17th)

• Gingerbread Day (November 21st)

• Leftovers Day (November 24th) or National Leftovers Day (November 29th)

• National Cake Day (November 26th)

December:

• National Fritters Day (December 2nd)

• National Apple Pie Day (May 13th and December 3rd)

• International Tea Day (May 21st and December 15th)

• Bacon Day (December 30th)

Do you think these make sense for days Hobbits would like? Do you know of any others I missed?

I noticed there were a lot of national-days-of-thing vs days listed as just-straight-up-days-for-this-thing, so I could’ve missed a “National Day of” or “International Day of” somewhere!

Thanks for reading!

Olivia

Works Cited (MLA 9th Ed.):

Accomando, Beth. “Elevenses And Then Some: How To Prepare A Feast Fit For A Hobbit.” The Salt, NPR, 2013. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/12/09/249827551/elevenses-and-then-some-how-to-prepare-a-feast-fit-for-a-hobbit

“Apple Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Day

Austen, Jane. “Pride and Prejudice.” Jane Austen: Seven Novels, 2016. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2016, 199.

Hadeed, Becky. “National Food Days 2024.” The Storied Recipe, Brunch Pro, 2023. https://thestoriedrecipe.com/national-food-days-free-printable-calendar/

“International Tea Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Tea_Day

“List of Food Days.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_food_days

“National Pie Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pie_Day

“What Hobbits Like to Eat.” Bon Appetit, Conde Nast, 2012. https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/pop-culture/article/what-hobbits-like-to-eat

“World Food Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Food_Day

“Year at a Glance.” National Day Calendar, The Arena Group, 2024. https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/year-at-a-glance

1. Abbreviation of the opening lines of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Source: Austen, Jane. “Pride and Prejudice.” Jane Austen: Seven Novels, 2016. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2016, 199.