To some people, escargot is a delicacy, but to others, it’s something too exotic or disgusting to even consider trying. Over the past few years, however, the popularity of escargot has begun to increase, so now might be a good time to celebrate National Escargot Day. This holiday falls on May 24th and is a great opportunity for both escargot lovers and those new to escargot to try out this delicious dish.

The History of Escargot

Humans have been eating land snails for a long time. The practice dates back thousands of years, well into prehistory. They were a treat for the wealthy in ancient Rome, but people all over Europe used snails as a food source. The species eaten were Otala lactea, and specimens of this species have been recovered from buildings in Morocco that were built during the Roman era.

While the practice of eating snails is an ancient one, the word ‘escargot’ only dates back to the late 19th century. It comes from the Old French word ‘escargol’. In 1892, the English version of this word, ‘escargot’, was recorded for the first time. Although escargot has been popular throughout Europe for a long time, it didn’t become very popular in the U.S. until the 1960s. But once it started to become popular, its popularity kept increasing until it was a $300 million business in the U.S.

As far as the history of National Escargot Day, that seems to have been lost to time. We think that this holiday was created sometime during the 1990s, but we don’t have proof of this premise, so if anyone knows the history of this holiday, we encourage them to contact us.

Facts About Escargot

Below are some facts about escargot that we think everyone can appreciate—regardless of whether you love this dish or not.

• The French consume more than 40,000 metric tons of snails each year.
• The science of growing snails for food is known as Heliciculture.
• Snails are almost blind and are deaf.
• Scientists are researching whether snail slime can be a remedy for human stomach ulcers.

Observing National Escargot Day

If you’re a fan of escargot, then you’re probably not going to have a problem observing this holiday with a nice plate of escargot. On the other hand, if you’ve never tried this dish, then you might be hesitant to try out snails. We understand, but we urge all of our readers to at least give it a try before they come to a final decision on whether they like it or not. Escargot prepared in garlic and parsley butter is one of the most delicious things you could ever try. However, that’s not the only way to prepare this dish, so definitely look out for ways that you would want to make it. And when you make a plate of escargot that you’re proud of, don’t forget to post a picture on social media using the hashtag #NationalEscargotDay.