Celebrated on the first Saturday in August, National Mustard Day is a holiday that celebrates one of the most widely used condiments around the world. It doesn’t matter which type of mustard a person prefers; it only matters that they take the time during this day to enjoy it fully.

So anyone who enjoys mustard—regardless of whether it’s yellow, Dijon, spicy brown, or sweet—can enjoy this holiday alone or with friends and family.

The History of National Mustard Day

This day was created in 1991 by the Mustard Museum. In 1992, the Mustard Museum opened to the general public and established operations in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. In October of 2000, they had to move their operations to a more spacious building to house their ever-growing collection of mustard.

Since the mustard collection just kept growing, they eventually moved it to Middleton, Wisconsin, in 2009. Each year, they celebrate a mustard festival in Middleton to celebrate National Mustard Day.

Interesting Facts About Mustard

Below are some interesting facts about mustard that are sure to make people think a little bit more about this plant and the condiment that’s prepared from it.

• Mustard is a plant, and prepared mustard is a condiment made from that plant.
• Mustard is a member of the Brassica or Sinapis genera family.
• Mustard is related to cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and broccoli.
• Mustard is the first condiment to be used by humans.
• Egyptian pharaohs stocked their tombs with mustard seeds for use in the afterlife.
• The Ancient Greeks & Romans believed that mustard had medicinal qualities.
• Mustard was used by the Greeks to treat scorpion stings.
• King Louis XI of France never traveled unless he had mustard with him.
• Mustard is the second most-used spice in the U.S., lagging only behind pepper.
• Mustard can last two years unopened in the pantry, one year opened in the refrigerator.
• The average American consumes 12 ounces of mustard per year.

Celebrating National Mustard Day

There are a variety of different ways to celebrate this holiday. The most obvious way is for a person to use their favorite mustard. They can either put it on a sandwich or they can make a dish out of it.

Some of the more popular dishes that are made with mustard include potato salad, honey mustard chicken, Brussels sprouts with mustard sauce, Cuban-style sandwiches, German brats, mustard-glazed ham, and pork chops served with mustard noodles.

Participants can also head down to Middleton, Wisconsin, to visit the Mustard Museum and partake in the Mustard Festival. If heading to Middleton is off the table, participants can also head to their favorite store and peruse some of the mustard varieties that can be bought.