Holiday Recipe Ideas

Easter: While not a national holiday, many families celebrate Easter Sunday or Passover on a yearly basis. Besides being a religious holiday, Easter also commemorates the arrival of springtime. This is represented through imagery of bunnies, eggs and green grass. Many families also enjoy a hearty Easter dinner. While foods such as lamb and ham are common, there tends to be more variation than during holidays such as Thanksgiving.    

Labor Day: The exact origin of Labor Day is uncertain, with several U.S. towns and cities claiming to be the birthplace of the holiday. Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter; and Matthew Maguire, a machinist, are some of the people who may have founded the holiday. Nonetheless, Americans celebrated their first Labor Day on September 5, 1882 (in New York City). Today, Labor Day occurs on the first Monday of September, and signifies the unofficial end of summer. Various outdoor activities that epitomize the holiday include beach trips and camping trips. Barbecues, picnics, and holiday recipe ideas associated with the holiday often unofficially end the year's consumption of outdoor meals.  

Memorial Day: Known originally as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died while serving the United States. The actual origin of the holiday is debatable, with several towns and cities claiming that theirs is the birthplace of Memorial Day. It became a national holiday in 1971 and represents the unofficial beginning of summer. Picnics and barbecues are some of the most popular activities, 

4^th of July: This holiday commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is seen as the birthday of the United States. Americans mark this day through various events, such as concerts, baseball games, fairs, carnivals, parades and of course fireworks. But this is also a time to enjoy tasty food at picnics and barbecues. Unlike Labor Day and Memorial Day, the July 4^th holiday is in the middle of the summer. So many of the foods and beverages are meant not only to fill you up, but also cool you down.    

Thanksgiving: The first unofficial Thanksgiving meal arguably took place in 1621. That's when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag American-Indians shared different foods from their fall harvest. Although we're not 100% certain what was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving dinner, according to historical records they ate wild birds and venison. The Pilgrims' meals contained a variety of meats and several spices that they had brought with them from England.  

Throughout the centuries, Thanksgiving dinner has evolved into the meal that it is today. Turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie have become some of the standard foods associated with the holiday. Some people like to deviate from the "standard" menu, for various reasons. This could include having vegetarians in their household or simply an interest in adding some variation to the dinner. But regardless of which holiday recipe ideas one uses during Thanksgiving, the spirit of the holiday hasn't changed.  

Christmas: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are all holidays that many Americans celebrate at the end of the year. Many people who aren't religious enjoy celebrating a secular form of Christmas, by focusing on the importance of family, friends and generosity.  

Although not as integral to the holiday as Thanksgiving, food plays a huge role in the celebration of the holiday. Apple cider, eggnog, fruitcake, gingerbread and plum pudding are some of the most common foods found on the table during Christmas dinners. Many of the foods that are common during Thanksgiving are also popular during Christmas. 

Since the US was once a collection of British colonies, many of America's traditional Christmas foods originated in England. In fact, many of these foods have a fascinating history as British Christmas foods, before they became American Christmas foods. 

The origin of every American holiday has a story, with those stories often including particular foods and holiday recipe ideas that make the holidays extra special. We eat every day, but during holidays we can enjoy a smorgasbord of special culinary delights!

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Gingerbread House Ideas - Certain holidays have particular icons. Easter has the Easter Bunny, while Halloween has witness and ghosts. Christmas includes a cornucopia of icons, including Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and gingerbread men. If you're interested in creating a gingerbread house, then here are some gingerbread house ideas to make the process as easy as cake (or bread): 

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