National Garlic Day
Garlic is a plant species in the onion genus Allium that has been used for cooking and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Over the years, garlic has been used to ward off the recently risen undead, has been used as a powerful potion, and has even been used as a currency. Since this plant has been with us since the dawn of human history, it’s a good thing that it finally received its own holiday. This holiday is celebrated on April 19th every year and is aptly named National Garlic Day.
The Storied History of Garlic
Although we were unable to discover the origins of this holiday, we were able to uncover the origins of garlic. This plant is native to Iran and Central Asia and has been cultivated for at least 5,000 years. It’s believed that garlic was cultivated in Mesopotamia for at least 5,000 years and that the Egyptians were introduced to it in 3200 BCE. The Egyptians used this plant to embalm mummies, believing that the odor of garlic would protect the souls of the deceased from evil spirits.
Garlic was also used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and in these cultures, it was used not only for cooking but also for medicinal purposes. During the Late Middle Ages, the English also used garlic, but they used it mainly for medicinal purposes and it was rarely used for cooking. Today, garlic is known not only as an important ingredient for cooking but is also reported to have distinct medicinal benefits when used properly.
Facts About Garlic
Because garlic has been such an important part of human culture for over 5,000 years, we thought that we’d pay homage to this plant by listing some fun facts about it that are sure to delight everyone who reads them.
- Worldwide consumption of garlic is believed to be 2 pounds per person.
- Studies have shown garlic is good at lowering blood pressure.
- Cut garlic releases allicin, a powerful antifungal and antibiotic.
- Allicin is also believed to inhibit liver enzymes—which is believed to lower cholesterol.
- Garlic is packed with micronutrients including magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, and manganese.
- Garlic is from Asia but has an Anglo-Saxon name.
- The word garlic means “spear plant” in Anglo-Saxon.
- Garlic can be used to treat both cold sores and acne due to its antibiotic properties.
Observing National Garlic Day
There are several different ways for people to celebrate National Garlic Day. They can take the time to learn more about this marvelous plant, learn how to grow their own garlic, or make one of the many recipes that use garlic as its central ingredient. Anyone celebrating this holiday might also want to post their love for this plant by using the hashtag #NationalGarlicDay on their social media accounts.