Paella Day is a special date on the calendar to recognize the importance of the original recipe
One of the most emblematic dishes of Spanish cuisine that has delighted hundreds of palates around the world is paella, but what not everyone knows is how important it is in world gastronomy that it even has its own special day to celebrate it.
When and why Paella Day is celebrated
Every September 20th, World Paella Day is celebrated, coinciding with the rice harvest, the main food with which it is prepared. This date is intended to pay tribute to one of the most emblematic dishes of Spanish and Valencian gastronomy, raising awareness that the recipe is more than a dish, as it is also part of the culture and tradition of said cuisine.
With World Paella Day just a few days away, it is also important to mention the origin of this festival and the places where it can be celebrated, so if you are a lover of Spanish cuisine or simply a fan of this great dish, the following information will surely be of total interest to you.
What is the origin of World Paella Day?
Paella itself is a dish that originated during the 15th and 16th centuries in the rural areas of the Mediterranean region south of the city of Albufera in Valencia. According to some versions, this dish was born from the need of farmers to prepare something that was easy and cheap with ingredients that were at hand, referring to the fact that the recipe is of humble origin, as it had the objective of feeding people with a mixture of ingredients that were easy to obtain within Spain.
Originally, paella was a meal that was usually served to farmers and field workers at lunchtime, where people would pick whatever they had on hand from the rice paddies, often including tomatoes, onions, and snails, with rabbit or duck, or less frequently chicken, added as protein, to make a mix of foods that they could enjoy and that was also filling.
Places to Where Paella Day Celebrate It
Although the Valencian Community takes advantage of September 20 to honor paella and promote its “authenticity” as a destination, it does not matter where this great dish from Spanish cuisine is celebrated, because the objective is to continue paying homage to the original recipe and recognize the importance it has in the gastronomic, cultural and traditional field.
Now that you know that September 20 is a special date to celebrate World Paella Day, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this classic of Spanish origin.