National Garlic Day

Each year on April 19th, National Garlic Day celebrates a vegetable also known as the stinking rose. The fragrant and potent root has been seasoning dishes for thousands of years. 

#NationalGarlicDay

This stinking rose is a member of the lily family. This family also includes the flavorful onions, leeks, and shallots we use in some of our favorite dishes. Garlic originated in Asia over 7,000 years ago, so it's no surprise that cuisines worldwide incorporate it into favored recipes. 

Garlic is quite versatile as illustrated by its many medicinal purposes. The mighty bulb is considered an herbal remedy for colds and may reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Modern science has also proven garlic's antibiotic properties.

Myth and superstition reek of garlic. The most familiar one suggests that garlic wards off vampires. This same theory seemed to work on witches, werewolves, demons and other such evils one might cross. Folklore also tells us garlic grew from satan's left footprint when he left the Garden of Eden. Greek midwives used garlic to keep evil spirits away, and courage filled Roman soldiers who consumed the bulb.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL GARLIC DAY

• Celebrate the day by cooking a terrific meal with garlic.
• Attend one of the many garlic festivals around the world.
• Share your favorite recipes using garlic.
• Plant garlic in your garden so you can have the freshest bulbs possible.
• Share photos of delicious garlic dishes.
• Add some extra garlic to your pizza, pasta, or bread.
• Use #NationalGarlicDay to share on social media.