National Baklava Day
National Baklava Day:
Celebrated annually on November 17th, the National Baklava Day is dedicated to honoring one of the sweetest and richest desserts – the Baklava! Preparing it is a treat although it is a complex and time-consuming process! This National Baklava Day, make sure to treat your taste buds to the varieties of Baklava!
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2020 | 17th November | Tuesday | United States |
2021 | 17th November | Wednesday | United States |
2022 | 17th November | Thursday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalBaklavaDay
#BaklavaDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on November 17th:
Why National Baklava Day?
The origins of Baklava can be traced back to the 8th century BC. This dessert is a delicacy prepared in many countries and has adapted and evolved throughout history. The transformation through the ages is obvious from the use of flatbread to the thin crispy pastry flakes used for it.
Baklava is a great confectionery that is beloved among the Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Central Asians, Arbs, and Persians with their regional variations.
It is made with layers of Phyllo dough, sprinkled with chopped nuts mostly almonds, Pistachios, walnuts, etc and poured with honey or syrup after being baked! The result is a tender, crispy, sticky, and rich dessert! It is usually made during special occasions and festivals.
The Damascus bakers began creating Baklavas like the ones today and in 1871, a Baklava recipe from Damascus reached Antep, Turkey. This recipe appealed to the masses and became very popular here and was also called the Turkish Dessert.
This syrup coated crispy dessert is generally made in large quantities and suits weddings and other popular gatherings. In Arab countries, the Baklava is also given as a gift to guests.
It is believed that Arab Immigrants brought Baklava to America! And records also state the Turks introduced Baklawa to Hungary in the 16th century!
So, the Baklava as a dessert has evolved, adapted, and shared with time, invasions, trades, wars, and deeply transformed by the culture of the land. Baklavas are made using different filing and syrups from region to region! Therefore the National Baklava Day is an unofficial food holiday that is being celebrated across the country!
How Can We Observe National Baklava Day?
- Indulge in Baklavas!
It’s the National Baklava Day and no one can restrict you from having Baklavas today! Find the nearest diner that serves them on the menu and give the different versions of Baklavas a try!
- Learn to make a Baklava!
If you love having Baklava and can spare some time, create your Baklava, and take delight in preparing it every step of the way! You may also create a vlog or post pictures on social media to share your love for baking and remind everyone of this dessert. Use hashtags #NationalBaklavaDay and #BaklavaDay to share on social media!
- Plan to attend a Middle Eastern, Turkish, or Greek festival!
You will find many cultural festivals being celebrated around this time. If you get a chance to attend any of the Middle Eastern, Turkish, or Greek festivals, you can certainly find Baklavas in abundance! If you have no clue where or when such festivals take place, you may easily find them on the internet!
- Share your Baklava love on Social media
Tell the story of the Baklavas and why you love them with family and friends on social media! You may write a blog or make a video of the different varieties and countries the Baklava is popular in and encourage them to taste a Baklava today!
- Gift a few Baklavas!
If a friend or a family member has a sweet tooth, give them a box of Baklavas and surprise them!
Interesting Facts About National Baklava Day:
Here are a few fun facts to make your Baklava Day even more appealing!
- In Greece, your Baklava will have 33 layers of dough signifying 33 years of Christ’s life on earth
- Afghanistan and Cyprus serve triangle-shaped Baklavas topped with crushed pistachio nuts
- Armenian Baklavas are made with cloves and cinnamon
- The Baklavas are mostly made during the Nowruz Festival celebrated in Azerbaijan. They are cut in diamond shapes and served with a garnish of almond or walnut
- The Turkish Patent Office registered the Antep Baklava with a geographical indication in 2008
- In the Balkan region, the Baklava is prepared on special occasions such as Ramadan and Eid El-Fitr by Muslims and Christians prepared them during Easter and Christmas.
- In Albania, egg yolks may be added for the dough and walnuts for fillings!
History Of National Baklava Day:
The details of the creator and the year of origin of the National Baklava Day is unknown. No Presidential claims are found declaring it as a National Day.