thread: International Days and Food!

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Atop the lookout...
    2,777

    International Days and Food!

    In the midst of trying to get a meal plan happening, I thought about including different meals (not just the same old same old on rotation kind of thing) for special days.

    At first I thought of just the obvious birthdays, Christmas, Easter (inc Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent), St Patrick's Day (only because it's just been, and I made green shamrock biscuits), Halloween, and Bathurst (yes, I know. Bathurst ). Then Mother's Day, Father's Day, Anzac Day, Australia Day, and Chinese New Year.

    But then I looked through the International public holidays in my diary (you know, that double page at the front that I know I at least, have never looked at), and jotted down a heap more:
    American Thanksgiving; Hanukah; Indian Festival of Lights; National Day for France, Greece, Italy, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden; plus German Unity Day; Buddha's Birthday and Buddha Day; Mexico- All Souls Day and Revolution Day; and South Africa Freedom Day.

    I wasn't thinking of making an entire feast for each day, perhaps just one or two dishes that best represent their food culture. And since I would be serving my family such different dishes, I am sure we could all learn a bit about these different days and the Country they represent.

    Thoughts?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    Bonbeach, Melbourne
    7,177

    Wicked idea!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    A Pirate Ship
    3,627

    What a great idea! You could also add The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, it's a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Basically it's a vegetarian food festival so you could experiment with different flavors and vego dishes

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    Melbourne
    4,031

    Fanstastic idea! How about Bastille Day inlcuded in that too, yummo!
    We have friends who have dinner parties that are themed countries, they love it!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    Qingdao, China
    1,196

    I think this is a fantastic idea!!! My kids are at an International School here in Qingdao & once per year they have 'International Food Day' where we have to bring a plate of food to share from our respective countries. The bakeries here are absolutely devine so I ordered 2 big lamington cakes for Australia & it was a massive hit!! My kids loved sampling all the foods. A lot of them they didn't like but at least they gave them a whirl!

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jul 2009
    2,109

    You're awesome.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Atop the lookout...
    2,777

    Cherished; I like the sound of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. I might add that one to my list! What would the dates be? I might struggle a bit with getting some people to eat a vegetarian dish here though ()!

    Heather; I saw Bastille Day in a thread by Rouge, and thought about including that too.

    Lol, thanks Star!

    Shall I put up a list of days and dates for the next twelve months so other people can join in? I have no idea what I would be making for these days, but if I put up the dates, then maybe we can all work on some dishes together (and other people can work them into their meal plans/schedules as well). And if other people have other days to suggest, feel free to put them in too!

  8. #8
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    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    Sounds yum. I might think about this...

    My girls have Harmony Day at school today & we had to make food from Kenya. We were given Chipata's (flat bread) & some bikkie things. Can remember the proper name, but I'm thinking if the girls are more involved they might like trying more of these foods