The first “official” U.S. holiday is believed to be our National Independence Day, July 4th, which was first celebrated in 1777.

Currently, there are 11 Congressionally-delegated federal holidays. They are, in calendar order: New Year’s Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inauguration Day (after a presidential election), Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Now, unless you work for the government, you and I don’t get many of these days off, we just can’t go to the bank and we don’t get our mail. And, if you’re like me, you probably STILL stop by the bank and STILL walk to the mailbox only to be reminded it’s a “holiday” when there’s no one or nothing there.

Personally, I don’t get too excited about Washington’s Birthday or Columbus Day and I don’t think I’ve ever seen holiday decorations at Party City or Hallmark Cards for them either.

If I’m going to invest some time and effort celebrating a holiday or ANY national day, I think it should be something to really look forward to, something worth the effort…

Something I can sink my teeth into.

Like an apple pie…because chances are if you love ANY particular food, there is a National Day honoring it.

From food councils to local, state and even national governments, how it came to be that everyone seems to think that we need a weekend full of dancing asparagus, watermelon seed spitting, apple pie eating or cheddar cheese sculpting, left me to wonder just how many of these silly days are there?

Well, guess what? There is actually a “National” celebration of some kind of food on EVERY day of the year.

So, what’s coming up you might wonder?

If you’re stuck for something to celebrate this summer, here are just a few suggestions:

July 6th National Fried Chicken Day
July 12th Pecan Pie Day
July 16th Fresh Spinach Day
July 18th National Caviar Day
July 21st National Junk Food Day
July 29th National Lasagna Day
August 3rd National Watermelon Day
August 5th International Beer Day
September 13th National Peanut Day

Of course, everyone’s tastes are different. Perhaps your favorite food is Moldy Cheese? If so, mark your calendar for October 9th.

Love Bologna? October 24th is YOUR day to celebrate!

Other silly food days include: Deviled Eggs, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Corn Dogs, S-Mores, Fortune Cookies and of course, the ever popular Nacho’s Day which this year falls on Sunday, November 6th.

Besides all of these local, national and international food days, there are ALSO the food festivals which may or may not be scheduled to coincide with its day of national honor.

Michigan is itself home to five of these national food festivals. The National Morel Mushroom Festival which was held in Boyne City on May 11th – 15th, The National Asparagus Festival which was held in Oceana County on June 10th – 12th, The Belleville National Strawberry Festival just held on June 17th – 19th, The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, coming up on July 2nd to the 9th, and The National Blueberry Festival in South Haven on August 11th – 14th.

Whether it is a day of honor or a whole weekend, enjoying your favorite food is one thing truly worth celebrating! Grab your knife, fork and spoon and dig in!