I love celebrating holidays. It’s an opportunity for family and friends to come together and celebrate the particular occasion. We’re coming up on another winter holiday season, so I felt inspired to compile a list of the biggest holidays of the year, ranked by food and how mainstream America celebrates them. Here are the biggest holidays of the year, ranked by deliciousness.
8. St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is a great holiday, but many Americans just grab a Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s and call it a day. Some traditional Irish meals for Saint Patrick’s Day may include braised corn beef brisket and Irish soda bread, but most people don’t really go out of their way to make something traditional for Saint Patrick’s Day. I think we need to step it up, America.
7. Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a day full of chocolate and love. The day is chock-full of all types of delicious sweets, and whether you’re curing a heart break, embracing singleness, or enjoying your significant other, it is 100 percent acceptable to eat until you can’t breathe. The only bummer? If you don’t have a sweet tooth, you’re kind of out of luck.
6. Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, but it is also celebrated in the United States (although much differently). Many Americans venture out to Mexican restaurants and get chips and guac, quesadillas, and margaritas to celebrate.
However, in Mexico, they typically eat mole poblano and camote on Cinco de Mayo. Therefore, this holiday is not highly ranked on my list because Americans could help celebrate the occasion more authentically.
5. Fourth of July
The 4th of July is the perfect time to make American flag-themed desserts (like these festive af cake balls), throw some food on the barbecue, and enjoy light, fresh summer drinks. Enjoying some homemade treats while watching the fireworks provides for the perfect summer night. It’s not number one, but it sure is a great day for food, and America.
4. Halloween
Halloween is basically a spookier Valentine’s Day, because on Halloween, it’s also 100 percent okay to eat sickening amounts of chocolates and candies. In addition, there are so many ways you can be creative with your food; from ghost cookies to these little witches hats. I give it the approval rating much higher than Valentine’s Day because there are so many more opportunities to be festive with your food.
3. Easter
Easter brings lots of chocolate, candy, deviled eggs, and other easter bunny-related foods. This holiday occurs in the spring and it allows families to have one last get-together before the summer comes in full swing (and of course, for some to practice their Christian faith). However, it’s not all about the candy. Easter dinner is hearty and delicious. This is the perfect day to balance sweet and savory.
2. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving always brings full bellies and many leftovers. My favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing because it has such an interesting and unique flavor. Almost everyone characterizes Thanksgiving by the food they eat, and they aren’t wrong to do so. Thanksgiving is nearly the quintessential food holiday.
1. Christmas
And the winner is…. Christmas! Christmas is my favorite holiday, and in my opinion, the holiday with the best food. My grandparents live in Maine, so we always have lobster and wine for Christmas dinner, but there are a variety of different Christmas meals across the globe. Although, Santa-themed cookies seem to be on everyone’s dessert table! Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year, and the food, like Christmas cookies and Christmas dinner, make it the best, too.
Of course, this is list does not include all holidays celebrated in the states, just the one’s that require some pretty delicious food. Which holiday is your favorite?