National Sardines Day
National Sardines Day:
Celebrated annually every November 24th the National Sardines Day is dedicated to honoring the Sardines. The Sardines cross boundaries and Nations while they migrate into our plates and stomach. Sardines or Pilchards are usually smoked, grilled, pickled or packed in tin cans and available in many countries such as the US, UK, Turkey, Portugal, France, Greece, Morocco, India, etc. It is also consumed by large fish species, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2020 | 24th November | Tuesday | United States |
2021 | 24th November | Wednesday | United States |
2022 | 24th November | Thursday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalSardinesDay
#SardinesDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on November:
National Electronic Greeting Card Day
Why National Sardines Day?
From the early 15th century sardines can be categorized as world-renowned seafood. Sardines belong to the Clupeidae family and are highly nutritious, tiny, oily fish that are plentiful in the Pacific, Atlantic & Mediterranean oceans. Sardines are sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s Fish” as they are quite inexpensive in comparison to other seafood commodities. However, they are far from poor when it comes to their nutritional values!
Sardines are a good source of many Vitamins and Minerals containing –
- B2
- niacin
- vitamin B12
- phosphorus
- calcium
- potassium
- iron
- selenium
- omega-3fatty acids
- vitamin D
- protein
– B vitamins are vital for energy metabolism, which the body cannot synthesize itself and it also helps in the maintenance of the nervous system.
– Omega 3 fatty acids can improve brain function, lower blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and reduce the probability of you being forgetful .(talking about Alzheimer’s here)
Pacific Sardines were featured as “the Best Of Best’’ in The Super Green List of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It has very low levels of Mercury (less than 216 ppb) and high omega-3 fatty acid content.
While debates regarding the health of the sea and exploitation of its resources are ongoing, Sardines can be considered as a sustainable option as they feed only on plankton and fall at the bottom of the aquatic chain. Therefore they do not have high concentrations of heavy metals and contaminants.
Canned Sardines was the trend for a couple of years and its main producers were Norway, Portugal, France, Spain. Sardine oil is also useful for industries manufacturing paint, varnish, and linoleum.
Not sure about saving souls, but it sure can save your body and health! In almost all soups, the fish-based broth is made of a Sardine stock, you might have even liked the taste, you just didn’t know how much you love sardine then, but now you do!
While many might argue that Sardine dishes fall into the acquired taste category, the fact that it has remained a delicacy throughout the centuries and its high nutritional value give it a special place in every seafood directory.
How Can We Observe National Sardines Day?
-Prepare a Sardine dish with your friends and family and use hashtags #NationalSardinesDay and #SardinesDay to post on social media!
You can try out recipes such as
-BBQ sardines with chermoula sauce
-Sardine pasta with crunchy parsley crumbs
-Sardines & tomatoes on toast
-Salsa Spaghetti with sardines
BBC’s, Goodfood features around 22 tasty Sardine recipes, do check them out .
-If you are not into cooking, check out the Sardine dishes in a nearby restaurant and enjoy its goodness.
-Get some creative Sardine prints on a T-shirt and let the world know, you are one Sardine looking for another Sardine. There are plenty of Sardines in the sea!
-Sardines have a long history, boost your general knowledge with a fishy twist.
Interesting Facts About National Sardines Day:
Here are some interesting facts about Sardines!
-Sardines are the most plentiful, edible fish in the world.
-The main ingredient in Worcestershire sauce is fermented sardines.
-The ‘secret’ component of the Caesar Salad is crushed sardines.
-“Packed like sardines” is a metaphor used to describe any crowded situation, inspired from the closely packed sardine cans
-The sardine run is a phenomenon that occurs from May through July when billions of sardines spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of South Africa, creating a frenzy along the coastline.
-Sardines have even induced poetry! Spike Milligan the British-Irish poet in his poem “Sardine Submarine”, narrates a sardine mother’s description about the sighting of a submarine to its offspring as,”a tin full of people”.
History Of National Sardines Day:
The origin and creator of this day remain unknown. Our research also did not find the reasons for choosing November 24th to celebrate National Sardines Day. No claims were found declaring it to be a national holiday. People in the US celebrate it as a fun food holiday.